Sir David Graaff, 1st Baronet
Sir David Pieter de Villiers Graaff, 1st Baronet ( born March 30, 1859 † April 13, 1931 ) was a South African businessman and politician.
Origin and Youth
David Pieter Graaff was the son of John Peter Norbertus Graaff (1823-1875), a servant on the farm of Pieter de Villiers, who in his daughter, Anna Elizabeth De Villiers (1827-1900) from the widespread originally French family of De Villiers, fell in love and they married.
After Graaff worked in his early years in the butchery of his great-grandfather, he took over in 1881 jointly with his younger brother Jacobus this business. The two brothers have focused on the food supply of ships and developed by the first cold rooms for food in South Africa.
Political career
At the same time Graaff was also politically active after he first served some time as a volunteer in the army, he was commander of the artillery in Cape Town. Through his political activism it to be succeeded appointed by Cape Town in a short time the city council and mayor. In this role, Graaff was one of the initiators for the installation of electric lines in the city. He also was a member of the South African Parliament 1891-1897.
During the Boer War (1899-1902) was Graaff Supplier army of British troops. But he also raised large sums of money for the captured Boers. So he could ensure the medical care of sick women and children.
After the Boer War Graaff invested in real estate in and around Cape Town. Among other things, he bought the Villa De Grendel, located outside of Cape Town, where he bred Friesians. His descendants there lead a prestigious estate.
Graaff and his brother Jacobus founded in 1907, the De Villiers Graaff also high school in the town of Villiersdorp.
David Pieter Graaff and Luis Botha
David Pieter de Graaaff was in years 1908-1910 Minister without portfolio in the last cabinet ( 1908-1910 ) of the Cape Province. Since he is a close friend and political confidant of General Louis Botha - the first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa - was, he fulfilled various ministerial posts under the government of Botha. So he entered, for example, as Minister of Post and Telegraph system (1911-1912), as Minister without Portfolio (1912-1913) and as Minister of Finance (1915-1916) in appearance. Together with Louis Botha, he was a delegate from South Africa part in the peace Treaty of Versailles. In the years 1908-1920 Graaff was again a member of Parliament.
Baronet of Tygerberg
David Pieter Graaff was appointed in 1911 for his services to his country by the British King George V. baronet of Tygerberg (see Graaff Baronets ). His eldest son, David, Pieter De Villiers Graaff was succeeded as baronet.