Events in Free State History
- 1854-02-17 Britain recognises independence of Orange Free State (South Africa)
- 1854-02-23 Great Britain & Orange Free state sign Convention of Bloemfontein
- 1899-10-02 Orange Free state mobilizes
- 1900-03-12 President Steyn of Orange Free state flees from Bloemfontein
- 1900-03-13 British troops occupy Bloemfontein, capital of the Orange Free State (Boer War)
- 1900-10-06 Britain annexes Orange Free State (as Orange River Colony)
- 1907-07-01 The Orange River Colony, known as the Orange Free State, is granted self-government by the British
- 1913-09-23 Women protests take place in the Free State, South Africa, led by Charlotte Maxeke, resisting government attempts to impose passes on women; passes are burnt in front of the municipal offices
- 1914-01-27 A petition is written and submitted by the black and coloured women of the Orange Free State, an independent Boer sovereign republic in southern Africa, against the carrying of passes by women
Free State National Party
1914-07-01 General J. B. M. Hertzog founds the Free State National Party
Famous People from Free State
- 1844-10-05 Francis William Reitz, 5th State President of the Orange Free State, born in Swellendam, Cape Colony (d. 1934)
- 1854-10-07 Christiaan R de Wet, South African rebel leader, politician and general in the Boer War, born in Smithfield, Orange Free State (d. 1922)
- 1857-10-02 Marthinus Theunis Steyn, South African politician and President of Orange-Free state (1896-1902), born in Winburg, Orange Free State (d. 1916)
- 1868-04-05 Flooi Du Toit, South African cricketer (one Test South Africa 1892), born in Jacobsdal, Orange Free State (d. 1909)
- 1894-12-05 C. R. Swart, South African politician (1st State President of South Africa 1961-67), born in Winburg, Orange Free State (d. 1982)
- 1902-10-14 Shunter Coen, South African cricket batsman (2 Tests, HS 41no, @ 50.50; Orange Free State), born in Heilbron, South Africa (d. 1967)
- 1905-10-15 Edna Deane (née Sewell) British dancer, choreographer and drama teacher, born in Orange Free State of South Africa (d. 1995)
- 1914-06-29 Ellen Kuzwayo, South African member of parliament (ANC) and noted writer ("Call me Woman"), born in Thaba-Nchu, Orange Free State (d. 2006)
- 1915-09-18 Hetta Empson, South African-British artist, born in Orange Free State, South Africa (d. 1996)
P. W. Botha (1916-2006)
1916-01-12 South African politician (President of South Africa, 1984-89; Prime Minister, 1977-84), born in Paul Roux, Orange Free State Province, South Africa
- 1922-07-23 Stefans Grové, South African composer (Nonyana, The Ceremonial Dancer; Cyclops; Glimpses), born in Bethlehem, Orange Free State, Union of South Africa (d. 2014)
- 1927-10-21 Nadia Nerina [Nadine Judd], South African-British ballerina (Sadler's/Royal Ballet, 1949-68), born in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, South Africa (d. 2008)
- 1935-02-05 John J "Jannie" Geldenhuys, South African army general (Chief of the South African Defence Force, 1985-90; Chief of the Army, 1980-85), born in Kroonstad, Orange Free State, South Africa (d. 2018)
- 1935-05-29 André Brink, South African writer (Kennis van die aand (Looking into Darkness); A Dry White Season), born in Vrede, Free State (d. 2015)
- 1935-06-25 Wynand Breytenbach, South African soldier and politician, Deputy Minister of Defense (1986-94), born in Orange Free State, South Africa (d. 2002)
- 1942-05-22 Pallo Jordan, South African politician and ANC member, born in Kroonstad, Free State
- 1946-09-15 Mike Procter, South African cricket all-rounder (7 Tests, 41 wickets, BB 6/73; Gloucestershire CCC, Natal, Western Province, Rhodesia, Orange Free State), born in Durban, South Africa (d. 2024)
- 1957-09-14 Kepler Wessels, South African cricketer who played for both Australia and South Africa, born in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State Province, South Africa
- 1959-07-16 Gary Anderson, NFL placekicker (Philadelphia Eagles), born in Parys, Orange Free State, South Africa
- 1961-10-01 Corrie van Zyl, South African cricket all-rounder, coach, administrator (RSA coach 2010-11), born in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State
- 1973-09-18 Mark Shuttleworth, South African entrepreneur (founder and CEO of Canonical Ltd.), born in Welkom, Orange Free State, South Africa
- 1981-07-30 Juan Smith, South African rugby back-rower (70 Tests; RC Toulon, Gauteng Lions, Free State Cheetahs), born in Bloemfontein, South Africa
Alan Paton
Bobby Locke
Candice Swanepoel
Charlize Theron
Christiaan Barnard
Cyril Ramaphosa