Michiel van Breda

Michiel van Breda (1775-1847) was a South African farmer, founder of Bredasdorp, Mayor of Cape Town and a Freemason.

Michiel van Breda
Mayor of Cape Town
In office
1840–1844
Preceded byOffice started
Succeeded bySmuts, J.J.L.
Grand Master of Lodge de Goede Hoop (South African Freemasons)
In office
1831–1837
Preceded byNeethling, J.H.
Succeeded byBrand C.J.
Personal details
Born(1775-08-12)August 12, 1775
Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa
DiedAugust 12, 1847(1847-08-12) (aged 72)
CapeTown, Cape Province, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Spouse(s)Gesina van Reenen, Beatrix Elizabeth Lategan, Maria Adriana Smalberger
Children9
Known forSheep farming, founder of Bredasdorp, mayor of Cape Town and freemasonry.

Roots

Van Breda was born on 12 August 1775 in Cape Town. His parents were Pieter van Breda and Catharina Sophia Myburg. He married three times. Out of his marriages with Gesina van Reenen, Beatrix Elizabeth Lategan and Maria Adriana Smalberger he became the father of nine children. He died in Cape Town on 12 August 1847.[1]

Merino sheep farming

In 1817 van Breda was farming on Zoetendals Vallei farm in the region which is today called Overberg. He imported the Rambouillet Merino from France. Together with the Merino's from Saxony in Germany, which he also imported, he created the South African Merino. He was the first person to start breeding with Merinos in South Africa. His partner was F. W. Reitz.[2][3] A Merino is a sheep primarily breed for its wool. It is originally from Spain. The first Merinos date back to the 12th century. The sheep is particularly well adapted to low rainfall environments climates.[4]

Bredasdorp

Van Breda and P.V. van der Byl wanted to build a church for the farming community in the Overberg, part of the Cape Province. They could not agree on a location, so both build a church, 15 kilometres apart. Two towns were founded this way. Today one is called Bredasdorp and the other Napier. Van Breda's church was built on the farm Langefontein in 1838. When a town started to develop around the church it was called Bredasdorp, a name derived from Michiel van Breda's last name.[5][6][7]

Mayor of Cape Town

In 1840 Cape Town, which was founded as a refreshment station by Jan van Riebeeck in 1652, was declared a municipality.[8] Van Breda was the first mayor and was in office from 1840–1844.[9] He stayed on Oranjezicht farm.[10][11]

Freemason

He was a member of the Dutch section of the South African Freemasons. He was Grand Master of the Lodge de Goede hoop from 1831-1837.[12][13]

References
  1. Lady Anne Lindsay Barnard (1999). The Cape Diaries of Lady Anne Barnard, 1799-1800: 1799. Van Riebeeck Society. ISBN 9780958411257.
  2. Erasmus, D. (22 May 2014). "A history of SA Merino farming". Farmersweekly Magazine.
  3. Wilson, E.W. (1990). "A changing rural economy and its implications for the Overberg, 1838 – 1872" (PDF). University of South Africa.
  4. "Merino-breed of sheep". Britannica. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  5. "History of Bredasdorp". Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  6. "History of Bredasdorp". Overberg.co.za.
  7. "Bredasdorp".
  8. "Cape Town timeline". Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  9. Warren, D. (1986). "Merchants, Commissioners and wardmasters: 1840–1854" (PDF). University of Cape Town.
  10. "Historic city farm that gave Oranjezicht its name". Argus newsapeper. 16 August 2015.
  11. "History of the OranjezZicht Farm". Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  12. Cooper, A.A. (1980). "The origins and growth of Freemasonry in South Africa" (PDF). Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  13. "Prominent persons in history who were Freemasons".
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