Thomas François Burgers

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Thomas François Burgers (1834–1881) was a South African minister and politician who became the 4th president of the South African Republic (Transvaal), serving from 1872 to 1877.

Early life and beliefs
- Born on a farm near Graaff-Reinet in the Cape Colony.
- Studied theology at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands and became a pastor in Hanover, South Africa.
- Known for liberal, rationalist ideas and had conflicts with the Dutch Reformed Church. He was accused of heresy in 1862, suspended in 1864, but the Supreme Court later overturned the ruling and he returned to the ministry in 1865.

Presidency
- Elected president in 1872 by a large majority.
- In 1874, introduced the Burgerspond coins, featuring his portrait.
- Favored expansion and big projects, including a plan for a railway linking the Transvaal to the sea. He traveled to Europe in 1875 to raise funds, but the plan faced opposition and hurdles.

Decline and aftermath
- By 1877 Burgers was unpopular and the republic’s finances were in trouble.
- Britain annexed the Transvaal in 1877, ending his presidency.
- He retired to the Cape Colony and died in 1881, leaving his family in hardship.
- His former secretary published Burgers’s sketches to help his family. He was a Freemason, and his remains were later moved to Heroes’ Acre in Pretoria.