JAMESON, Sit Leander Starr, South African statesman: b. Edinburgh, Scotland, 9 Feb. 1853; d. London, 26 Nov. 1917. He studied medicine, took his degree, and was gaining a reputation as a skilful young surgeon when he went to South Africa in 1878, where he made the acquaintance of Cecil Rhodes in Kimberley. In 1889, while Rhodes was forming the Char tered Company, he sent Jameson as envoy to negotiate with the Matabele chief Lobengula. Jameson's tact and medical skill overcame the dusky potentate's objections to the Rhodes ex which set out in 1890. In 1891 ameson was appointed administrator of hodesia, acting as commander, judge and prime minister. In the Matabele rising of 1893 he accompanied a column to Bulawayo, where he remained after the flight of Lobengula to establish another British administration. The creation of Rhodesia caused great resentment in the Transvaal Republic as it limited Boer expansion to the north. The struggle between President Kruger (q.v.) and the Uitlanders striving for government reform led to the be lief that a rising among the latter was im minent. In December 1895-Jameson, at the head of a small force of Chartered Company's police and volunteers, stood waiting on the Bechuana land border for the signal. On account of dis agreement, however, the revolt in Johannes burg was postponed, and Jameson, with or without the orders of Rhodes, forced the hands of the conspirators by invading the Transvaal with with 500 men and three field guns on 28 Dec. 1895. On 2 Jan. 1896 they were surrounded by the Boers near Dornkop, where they were com pelled to surrender. The British government repudiated Jameson's action and entirely dis owned him. He was brought back to Eng
land, tried and sentenced to a term of im prisonment. He was released after four months on account of sickness. The ill-starred raid produced untold trouble in South Africa, whither Jameson returned to the assistance of Rhodes. The latter died before the close of the South African War (q.v.), and Jameson was elected to his seat in the Cape house of assembly. He had a burdensome to live down, but by 1904 he became the recognized leader of the Progressive party. In that year he became Prime Minister of Cape Colony, holding that office till 1908. His administra tion was marked by economy, internal reforms and a sincere desire to reconcile the conflicting elements of Boer and Briton. Rhodes' great dream of union in South Africa was un swervingly pursued by Jameson, add it was in a large measure due to his efforts that that ideal was realized in 1909. The policy which he stamped upon the Unionist party at the Bloem fontein conference in 1910 has been maintained to the present day. From 1908 to 1912 he sat in the Opposition; in the latter year illness compelled him to resign and return to England. In 1913 he was elected chairman of the Char tered Company in London. As chairman of the Central Prisoners of War Committee dur ing the European War he performed valuable service to the government. In many British eyes "Doctor Jima was regarded as a hero; what he tried to do with 500 men it took the government 2,500,000 men and a three years' war to accomplish. See JAMESON lb% ; RHODES, C. ; RHODESIA ; SOUTH AFRICA ; SOUTH AFRICA N WAR.