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- Sir Pieter Hendrik FAURE was born at "Vergenoegd", Faure and died at “Villa Capri”, St James, Cape Town.
He was a Solicitor and Politician.
He had homes in Rondebosch, Cape Town, and Paarl.He took up law as a profession, practising as a Solicitor at Paarl. In 1889 he became a Member of the House of Assembly representing the Bond for the Paarl Constituency
When, in 1890, Cecil John Rhodes formed a Cabinet in collaboration with the Bond, he became Minister of Native Affairs. He filled the post of Colonial Secretary in
Rhodes' second government (1894-1896) and became known for his liberal views.
When the cabinet was reshuffled in January 1896, after Rhodes had resigned following the Jameson Raid in the Transvaal Republic, he was persuaded to serve with Dr TNG te Water in Sir Gordon Sprigg's cabinet. He became Minister of Agriculture and engaged in the task of ridding the country of Rinderpest. He also contributed to the development of the fishing industry. During this period he changed his political convictions and sided with the Progressive Party in Parliament.
In the election of 1898 he did not stand for Paarl but successfully contested the Namaqualand seat for the House of Assembly. He held the seat for the next ten years.
He was made a KCMG in 1895. During the Schreiner administration of 1898-1900 he joined the opposition. When Sprigg took over the reins of office in 1900 he once again served as Minister of Agriculture.
During the last phase of the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), he came strongly to the fore as a vigorous opponent of the movement to abrogate the Cape constitution. He was Colonial Secretary from May 1902 to February 1904 and from 1904 to 1907 served on the Commission of Enquiry into War Damages. In 1907 he accepted the appointment of
Colonial Secretary in the Jameson cabinet, but since the government fell in the following year, his period of service was brief. He concluded his political career by representing Western Province on the Legislative Council from 1908 to 1910.
He also had interests in the liquor trade. He was a member of the Cape Parliament for altogether 23 years and a Minister for more than 14. He was the only person, with the exception of Rhodes himself, who served in both Rhodes Ministries.
He lived for many years at "Highstead", Rondebosch, which was given to him for his lifetime by his friend, Cecil John Rhodes.
Sir Pieter was commemorated by many events, including the naming of a pier on Robben Island, the Faure Pier, the naming of a small steamer, the Pieter Faure, the opening of the George / Mossel Bay railway line in 1907.
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