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4 unusual facts about Thomas Upington


Thomas Upington

The town of Upington in the Northern Cape is named after him, as was the short-lived Boer republic of Upingtonia.

He was accused of propounding Parnellite principles and denounced by British politicians in Cape Town as a “Fenian” whose "offence is rank", and who "has been fraternising with Mynheer Van Dunk instead of sticking with John Bull".

The principle issue that dominated Upington's short Ministry was the conflict over two tiny Boer mercenary states – Stellaland and Goshen – which had been established by Boer invaders in "British" Bechuanaland and which the British demanded were ejected.

However his life-long health problems worsened and on 10 December 1898, Upington died in Wynberg, Cape Town, aged only 54.


Upingtonia

The state was named after Thomas Upington, prime minister of the Cape Colony, from whom the new state was hoping for support.


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