Jameson, Leander Starr

Born Feb. 9, 1853, in Edinburgh; died Nov. 26, 1917, in London. English colonialist in South Africa. Physician by profession. One of the directors (with C. Rhodes) of the British South African Company.

In December 1895, on the initiative of Rhodes and with the approval of the English government, an armed detachment led by Jameson invaded the Boer South African Republic (Transvaal) with the goal of overthrowing the Boer government and making the Transvaal a colony of Great Britain. Jameson’s detachment was routed by the Boers. In an attempt to cover up the aggressive nature of its policy in South Africa, the English government brought Jameson to trial. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison but was soon released. From 1899 to 1902, Jameson served in Great Britain’s war for control of the Boer republics. From 1904 to 1908 he was prime minister of the Cape Colony. Jameson headed the British Unionist Party in the Union of South Africa during 1910-12.