Gideon Brand van Zyl, PC (; 3 June 18731 November 1956) was

Governor-General of the Union of South Africa The governor-general of the Union of South Africa (; ) was the highest state official in the Union of South Africa between 1910 and 1961. The Union of South Africa was founded as a self-governing Dominion of the British Empire in 1910 and the o ...

from 1945 to 1950. Born in

Cape Town Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...

, he was the son of a prominent attorney, and he joined the family firm after qualifying at the University of Cape Town. During the

Anglo-Boer War The Second Boer War (, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, Transvaal War, Anglo–Boer War, or South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer republics (the South African Republic an ...

(1899–1902), he was a legal adviser to the British

War Office The War Office has referred to several British government organisations throughout history, all relating to the army. It was a department of the British Government responsible for the administration of the British Army between 1857 and 1964, at ...

. In

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

(1914–1918), he was Deputy Director of War Recruiting, and served in the Cape Peninsula Garrison Regiment (a home defence unit). Van Zyl entered politics in 1915, as a member of the Unionist Party. He was a member of the

Cape Provincial Council The Cape Provincial Council was the provincial council (South Africa), provincial council of the Cape Province of South Africa. It was created by the South Africa Act 1909, with effect from the formation of the Union of South Africa on 31 May 1910 ...

(the provincial legislature) until 1918, and then a member of Parliament until 1942. He was Deputy

Speaker Speaker most commonly refers to: * Speaker, a person who produces speech * Loudspeaker, a device that produces sound ** Computer speakers Speaker, Speakers, or The Speaker may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * "Speaker" (song), by David ...

from 1934 to 1942 (the Speaker being Dr

Ernest George Jansen Ernest George Jansen (7 August 1881 – 25 November 1959) was the penultimate Governor-General of the Union of South Africa, holding office from 1951 until his death in 1959. Early life and education Born on 7 August 1881, he was educated at ...

, who was later also governor-general). From 1942 to 1945, Van Zyl was Administrator of the Cape Province. He served as Governor-General from 1945 until 1950. He was appointed to the

Privy Council of the United Kingdom The Privy Council, formally His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, is a privy council, formal body of advisers to the sovereign of the United Kingdom. Its members, known as privy counsellors, are mainly senior politicians who are curre ...

in 1945. In 1947, he hosted

King George VI George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of In ...

and the

British Royal Family The British royal family comprises Charles III and other members of his family. There is no strict legal or formal definition of who is or is not a member, although the Royal Household has issued different lists outlining who is considere ...

when they toured South Africa. Van Zyl married Marie Fraser in 1900. He died in 1956.

References

1873 births 1956 deaths Afrikaner people South African people of Dutch descent Governors-general of South Africa Unionist Party (South Africa) politicians Members of the House of Assembly (South Africa) South African members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom Provincial political office-holders in South Africa Politicians from Cape Town Scouting and Guiding in South Africa Cape Colony people {{WesternCape-politician-stub