SMUTS, JAN (CHRISTIAN)

born May 24, 1870, Bovenplaats, near Riebeeck West, Cape Colony [now in South Africa] died Sept. 11, 1950, Irene, near Pretoria, S.Af. Smuts Christian also spelled Christiaan South African statesman, soldier, and prime minister (191924, 193948), who sought to promote South Africa as a responsible member of the (British) Commonwealth.