The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Fischer, Abraham

FISCHER, fĭsh'ėr, Abraham, South African statesman: b. Green Point, Cape Town, 1850; d. 1913. He was educated at the South African College, became interested in the politics of the Orange Free State and in 1878 became a member of the Volksraad. In 1896 he became a member of the Executive Council of the Volksraad and took part in many colonial and interstate conferences. He headed a joint deputation from Transvaal and Orange Free State to Europe and America during the South African War. From 1907 to 1910 he was Premier of the Orange River Colony and in the latter year became Minister of Lands in the new Union of South Africa government. He was made Privy Councillor in 1911 and became Minister of the Interior and Lands in 1912.