1790s in South Africa

[edit] Events

A Dutch Reformed Church is founded in Graaff Reinet
A Morovian Mission is founded at Genadendal
3 July - Sebastian Cornelis Nederburgh is appointed Commissioner-general of the Cape

Xhosas clash with the white settlers at the Fish River starting the 2nd Cape Frontier War
War is declared by the victorious French revolutionaries against the Dutch Prince of Orange
Britain goes to war against France
2 September - Abraham Josias Sluysken is appointed the Governor of the Cape. He is the last governor under Dutch East India Company rule

The Dutch East India Company is in financial ruins
29 January - Farmers expelled the officials of the Dutch East India Company and established an independent government at Graaff Reinet
18 June Swellendam follows Graaf Reinet and declares a republic under Hermanus Steyn
The Netherlands is invaded by the French under the leadership of Napoléon Bonaparte
A republic is declared by Dutch revolutionaires and the Prince of Orange flees to England
16 September - British forces under General Sir James Henry Craig seizes the Cape Colony for the Stadtholder Prince William V of Orange
The republics of Graaff Reinet and Swellendam regect the British and the British army is sent in
The start of free trade was announced

5 March - The Cape becomes a British colony
4 May - Sir John Barrow, author and explorer, arrives at the Cape Colony
23 May - The first British Governor of the Cape Colony, Lord Macartney, arrives.

Farmers of Graaff Reinet revolt against the British
The 3nd Cape Frontier War starts between white settlers and the Xhosas and only ends in 1801
The British build Fort Frederick in Algoa Bay
The eastern cape Khoikhoi revolt
The London Missionary Society set up their first station at Zak River
18 December - Sir G Young is appointed Governor of the Cape

1 May 1791 - The Rev. John Brownlee, founder of King William's Town, is born in Scotland