 A close friend and confidant of Gen Louis Botha, the first prime minister of the Union of South Africa, he was created a baronet in 1911 and served as Minister of Public Works and of Posts and Telegraphs (1911–1912), Minister without Portfolio (1912–1913), High Commissioner in London for Union of South Africa (1914) and Minister of Finance (1915–1916).He was a Member of House of Assembly for the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1920.He accompanied Botha to the Versailles peace conference in 1919.