PRETO'RIUS, pron. prti-to'ri-us, EARTH INAS WESSELS ( 1827-1901). A South African soldier and statesman, the first president of the South African Republic. He was born in Natal, the son of Andries Pretorius, one of the leaders of the 'Great Trek,' and subsequently commandant-general of the Boer forces. lie suc ceeded to his father's rank and position upon his death in 1852, and strove to carry out his policy, which had for its object the consolidation of the various independent Boer states. He won dis tinction as a military commander in the wars with the Kaifu,. and in 1860 was chosen presi dent of the Orange Free State. When, in 1864, the small Boer states north of the Vaal River combined to form the South African Republic, Pretorius left the Free State and threw in his fortunes with the new republic, of which he was at once elected president. Ile was reelected in 1469, but in the following year, because of dis satisfaction over the arbitration agreement to which he had assented, in reference to territory claimed by the Barnlong tribe, he resigned office.
The acts of his successor, President Burgers, led in 1877 to friction with the British authorities, and to a proclamation annexing the Transvaal to the British Empire. Pretorius took a prominent part in the revolt which followed, and after the independence of the Republic was recognized in 1880 he, with Kruger and Joubert, organized a provisional Government. Pretorius expected to be chosen president, but the commanding position won by Paul Kruger in the struggle led to his election in 1883, and the final retirement of Pre thrills to private life. He was one of the most conservative of Boer leaders, and during his last years bitterly opposed the war policy of Kruger, declaring prophetically that it meant the final extinction of both the Boer republics.