early life jan christian aka jan september prominent south african commonwealth statesman military leader philosopher served boer general boer war british general world war appointed field marshal king second world war addition cabinet appointments served prime minister members british war cabinet helping create royal_air_force played leading post war settlements end world wars making significant contributions creation united_nations relationship britain leading formation born second son traditional boer farming family rural tradition eldest son child receive formal education death elder brother year old jan sent school time years education exceptional progress gaining admission study graduated class honours literature science strong academic background applied won scholarship overseas study read law christ college cambridge academic success recipient prestigious academic awards graduated double class honours graduating passed examinations entering despite prospect bright future united_kingdom returned south_africa south_africa childhood family farm district cape colony child born wife child second son family sons daughters christened maternal grandfather jan family prosperous farmers long established area generations farmed district settling farm area called chief wheat growing area cape colony found care wife lived manner hard working farmer pillar church took leading social political affairs neighbourhood regard held later elected member mother born sister nearby town miles family originated area worcester cape colony accompanied brother took appointment eventually meeting marrying husband woman considerable education culture according standards area having studied music french cape_town jan years age family moved new farm thirteen miles away farm keen farm supervision father moved family family life family traditional farmers questions property family affairs extensively governed custom custom dictated son family expectations fell family far means allowed provide best possible education goal paving way entry work farm time receiving rudimentary home education second son jan role remained farm elder brother sent begin schooling destined like uncle future combined lessons mother order jan life years early childhood young given formal responsibilities farm jan accompanied coloured farm labourers went daily work time relations master servant black white certainly based social equality farms little rigid segregation emerging south_africa later profound consequences cape law principle strict legal equality races unlike rest south_africa adult males entitled vote stand election colonial legislature subject property qualification country districts existed certain intimacy farm owners labourers harvest times common find working gather crops commonplace find farm children playing race relatively liberal environment jan accompanied servants work listening stories learning ways countryside trying help best knowledge confidence increased jan began countryside exploring hills valleys surrounded later older boy chief responsibility herd pigs later cattle laws custom jan role farmer beneficial aspect boer farmers allotted sons share natural increase care time passed jan gradually built respectable holding livestock home away work farm education neglected restricted rudimentary home schooling mother notable education placed siblings advantage compared children similar circumstances outside influence family lived exclusively world cultural identity unlike boer north define opposition britain british farmers largely causes discontent earlier years discontent eventually culminated mass boer great trek result largely nationalism preached organisations founded having come leadership bond taste changed fundamental basis organisation preaching combined pragmatic policy economic cape farmers produce unity english dutch speaking populations cooperation colonial authorities member cape legislature pledged support reformed bond unlike parts south_africa conflict element largely absent early life conflict boer conflict black white years farmers deal turmoil absence conflict inevitable counterpart development prejudice effect later years look time fondness childhood experiences time spent tending cattle marked effects developing attachment spiritual nature wrote aged ordinary circumstances time taken running family farm spending life farmer father grandfather great grandfather events change fate tragedy struck family eldest son suddenly succumbed attending school time family grief direct effect jan eldest son weight family expectation fell shoulders weeks jan sent familiar surroundings boarding house brother place school case brother parents mapped future like brother jan destined future ordained conclusion studies imposed parents means regarded jan growing environment adherence church deeds counted good deal upbringing turned year old jan deeply religious minded boy attending school time faced number obstacles foremost rudimentary grasp english time main medium instruction crucial wished play role wider cape society thanks mother efforts subjects better prepared children similar circumstances start schooling alongside children years younger years study separating contemporaries despite jan proved outstanding scholar surpassed children terms innate ability terms dedication work described brilliant pupils taught hard working boy met years jan sufficient progress caught age group children years formal education compounded remarkable achievement time came sit cape colony elementary examination jan placed ninth entire colony year surpassed coming second school higher examination years worked studies self evidently given achievements academic abilities soon noted went way provide jan reading prove insufficient meet knowledge jan borrowed books books times engaging pursuits children separated strong work ethic weeks school higher examination consequences jan fell ill illness exacerbated study strict injunction doctor ordering complete rest absolute prohibition work reading jan packed bed despite doctor orders jan went lengths evade ban story told enforced describes involve youngest son year old child bring books father study enjoyed considerable success day visit wife sparsely furnished room possibilities jan best job substantial collection books wife entering room found jan expected bed boy look comfortably resting ought fact looked positively uncomfortable offered jan bed declined insisting perfectly comfortable insisted wife got way embarking deed kindness found real reason jan underneath making effort conceal immense pile books dedication reading study boy reaction impending examinations jan case particular episode revealing books found largely unconnected studies developed lifelong habit reading outside prescribed curriculum seeking knowledge sake age sixteen jan embarked stage education jan applied accepted prominent higher education cape late farewell ready embark new stage life life school pupils final stage secondary education jan set commence higher education sit exam jan duly moved spending early late preparing test west jan hard working deeply religious child strongly reserved solitary nature disposition legacy pious rural upbringing manifest earliest surviving letter letter written professor tutor run mill administrative arrangements forthcoming term mundane request information matters textbooks school fees jan found motive forces stranger wrote event resolution proper use precious time overcame moral religious small town like capable providing religion studies remained twin poles existence year boarding house jan studied attended church zeal ignored element exam tested candidates subjects latin greek mathematics science english literature exam time dedication studies paid cape lists placed jan overall highest marks colony greek standards year tremendous success achievement especially outstanding misunderstanding start year led jan believe greek exam result subject largely disregarded days exam potentially devastating oversight exposed week catch year study jan immediately shut away rooms spending days total working sunrise sunset attempt master grammar vocabulary shortly tested time exam hard work paid relatively short period jan largely books mastered greek language remarkable degree doubt determined work ethic played central role successes aided small formidable memory age jan found able large portions book simply reading ability gradually diminished years passed entirely disappeared son later start term finally saw admitted student enrolled undergraduate victoria college proved fertile grounds imagination biographer write environment new knowledge learning revealed spared effort attempts master surviving period reveal range breadth studies latin greek german geology case merely study sake exams continued study outside confines curriculum years religion continued crucial importance sundays attend morning evening church services leading bible study class local coloured boys week evening prayer meetings strongest friendships formed professor head theology faculty religious moral outlook based exclusively biblical teachings destined future church religion continued serve central role studies decidedly scientific bias led critical examination faith time onwards gradual degrees start away outlook raised marked intellectual awakening came mature socially began cast reserve afflicted joining local militia regular contributor college magazine leader debating society time verbal literary debate began political social issues facing south_africa cast reserve hard fast friendships met woman play central role life known daughter prominent local wine dairy farmer months younger shared similar upbringing resulting character traits son later write intelligent young woman like scored highly exam thought girl future higher education largely closed time spent company reading poetry singing piano walking evenings journey break social isolation enabling cast protective element peers wrote diary years later human recalled intellectual isolation return political awakening cecil rhodes paid visit leader college debating society called deliver welcoming address behalf student body rhodes verge prime minister cape colony vocal advocate southern african political economic unity occasion visit chose address theme engagement politics product time parent political rejection left largely innate time saw develop independent political outlook views developed tandem philosophical pursuit embodiment unity intellectual quest later develop philosophy early undeveloped stage brought ideas bear shaping political opinions emerged outspoken supporter south african unity extension supporter rhodes essays written time later views political philosophical entitled written competition prize offered essay examination economic relations colonies states south_africa highly commended judges failed win prize despite achieving modest success clear authoritative statement political outlook time essay considered question political economic relations colonies states south_africa close terms geographical proximity troubled relations preceding quarter century create atmosphere political considered come largely result petty fostered politicians interested concerns south_africa south_africa looked colony state treated region single unity words summed unity emotional response question coming earth proposed concrete policies steps ultimate expansion pan south african railway system greater commercial links binding region combined elimination regional trade barriers formation south african customs union writing essay important formative experience time seriously questions contemporary politics came political role resolving write seminal moment start biographer noted knew nations administrative arrangements essay significance dealt significant factor nation building cultural emotional ties needed form united community essay sight written overtly political topic declared true south african literature exist true south african nation born question arose development identified factor relations boer particularly effect influx british gold mines deeply conservative population relations groups discover gold rapid settled ways boer population vast mineral wealth rapidly significant economic unit south_africa sudden tide primarily british immigrants caused great deal unrest established population perceived new divisions strongest existed degree south_africa concerns old population fearful established ways traditions flood migration urged embrace new spirit saw new migrants likewise new population integrate old consolidate white population sake future south african nation secure survival face vastly greater native population new direction later years summed period examinations took double literature science applied won scholarship overseas study offered september departed cape board ship bound united_kingdom place cambridge_university cambridge admitted christ college elected study law choice law marked start new chapter preceding years ones tremendous intellectual development narrow focus upbringing outlook expanded awakening consciousness breadth knowledge open remaining church respectful bible teachings developed questioning critical outlook course studies outset university career content follow parents wishes ordained church time came end found unwilling commit path wholly rejected idea wished period study making decision came select law philosophy logical choices future minister religion time cambridge maintained regular correspondence old friend tutor professor choice law gave rise lively discussion choice declaring law simply classified accusing legal having contracted view life response published essay christ defence law entitled law liberal study attempted criticisms declaring moses onwards lawyers great lights ornaments church identifying law develops ages human history deepest permanent thought social achievement progressive humanity aside friendship intellectual level able come rescue time awkward crisis came cambridge age years older typical university undergraduate isolated men year different social background different upbringing different attitudes disdain combined lack interest sports decision outside college divide students year cambridge suffered tremendous describing utterly time found social opportunities biographer wrote course simply case reserve asserting face new unfamiliar surrounding biographers universally poverty endured year scholarship usually worth year failure fund investments worth sale personal livestock holdings family farm enabled pay sea passage left small bank despite remained substantial gap resources essential needs student term christ college provided small scholarship gap remained burden professor come rescue having difficulties end received immediate return urged write felt need return took life insurance policy naming died policy cover loans lived integrity cover loans combined scholarship began enjoy degree financial security far affluent able meet basic expenses second year onwards began enter social arena university ceased lonely making number friends acquaintances principally colonial students longer year remained extremely devoted work attitude served barrier separating english cambridge struck friendships respect studies achieved unique distinction sitting parts year passing class honours course studies won academic awards accolades culminating award prestigious prize roman law particular honour given prize rarely awarded rigorous academic standard required rarely met combined extensive reading private research topics including poetry philosophy biographer wrote aftermath time cambridge outstanding success tutor professor eminent legal minds time described brilliant law student taught summer able persuade trustees award year study short holiday spent studying english german philosophy returned england short time contemplated moving netherlands seek dutch degree october instead decided read bar december passed honours examination court passing year called soon received offer fellowship law old college christ possibility distinguished legal career england practice lay instead rejected paths june funding came end returned cape determined future select general cameron jan years jan christian general jan christian
Early life of Jan Smuts