Prime Minister Jan Smuts Name Colin Steyn Profession Lawyer, Politician | Nationality South African Preceded by Jan Smuts Succeeded by Harry Lawrence | |
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Died April 23, 1959, Bloemfontein, South Africa Parents Martinus Theunis Steyn, Christiaan de Wet Political party South African Party, National Party | ||
Colin Fraser Steyn (27 November 1887 – 23 April 1959) was a lawyer and a politician of Southern Africa, Member of the House of Assembly, Senator, and Cabinet Minister in the government of Jan Smuts.
He was born on 27 November 1887 in Bloemfontein in the Orange Free State, the son of Marthinus Theunis Steyn, who was the President of the Orange Free State from 1896 till 1902. He was named for his grandfather on his mother's side, Reverend Colin Fraser.
He practiced as a lawyer in Pretoria and then in Bloemfontein, where he was elected as deputy leader of the National Party. He served in the capacity as Deputy Minister of Justice from 1915 to 1928, under Tielman Roos.
He resigned this mandate in 1928, and left the political life for a short period, before joining United Party in 1936 and was once again reelected to Parliament of South Africa in 1938.
He was appointed as the Minister of Justice from 1939 till 1945, and then served as Minister of Employment from 1946 till 1948, in the South African Party government of Prime Minister Jan Smuts.
In 1953, he left the House of Assembly for the Senate, where he was served as Senator until 1955. He resigned from Parliament in 1955, due to health problems. He died on 23 April 1959.