On This Day

Bechuanaland becomes part of Cape Colony

The Cape Colony (Dutch: Kaapkolonie), also known as the Cape of Good Hope, was a British colony in present-day South Africa named after the Cape of Good Hope.

The Cape Colony (Dutch: Kaapkolonie), also known as the Cape of Good Hope, was a British colony in present-day South Africa named after the Cape of Good Hope. It existed from 1795 to 1802, and again from 1806 to 1910, when it united with three other colonies to form the Union of South Africa, then became the Cape Province, which existed even after 1961, when South Africa had become a republic, albeit temporarily outside the Commonwealth of Nations (1961–94).

The British colony was preceded by an earlier corporate colony that became an original Dutch colony of the same name, which was established in 1652 by the Dutch East India Company (VOC). The Cape was under VOC rule from 1652 to 1795 and under rule of the Napoleonic Batavia Republic from 1803 to 1806.

Historical Significance

The Cape Colony (Dutch: Kaapkolonie), also known as the Cape of Good Hope, was a British colony in present-day South Africa named after the Cape of Good Hope.

Events Before

  1. Denmark adopts Central European Time

    Central European Time (CET) is a standard time observed in Central as well as parts of Western and Southeast Europe, which is one hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

  2. William Kennedy Dickson captures "Fred Ott's Sneeze" as a motion picture at Thomas Edison's Black Maria Studio in West O

    William Kennedy Dickson captures "Fred Ott's Sneeze" as a motion picture at Thomas Edison's Black Maria Studio in West Orange, New Jersey [1]

  3. 1st college basketball game, University of Chicago beats Chicago YMCA 19-11

    1st college basketball game, University of Chicago beats Chicago YMCA 19-11

  4. J. L. Johnstone of England invents the starting gate for horse racing

    J. L. Johnstone of England invents the starting gate for horse racing

  5. Jules Massenet's opera "Thaïs" premieres in Paris, includes piece “Méditation” for violin and orchestra

    "Méditation" (pronounced [meditasjɔ̃]) is a symphonic intermezzo from the opera Thaïs by French composer Jules Massenet. The piece is written for solo violin, orchestra and backstage chorus.

Events After

  1. German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen announces his discovery of X-rays

    German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen announces his discovery of X-rays

  2. American Emile Grubbe is the first doctor to use radiation treatment for breast cancer

    American Emile Grubbe is the first doctor to use radiation treatment for breast cancer

  3. Giacomo Puccini's opera "La Boheme" premieres in Turin

    Giacomo Puccini's opera "La Boheme" premieres in Turin

  4. Charilaos Vasilakos of Greece wins the first modern marathon in 3:18 at the Panhellenic Games

    Charilaos Vasilakos was a Greek athlete and the first man to win a marathon race. He also won a silver medal for a second place finish in marathon at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens.

  5. Writer "Heart of Darkness" Joseph Conrad (39) marries Englishwoman Jessie George (23)

    Joseph Conrad was a Polish-British novelist and story writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language and – though he did not speak English fluently until his twenties...

More from the 1890s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on November 11, 1895?
The Cape Colony (Dutch: Kaapkolonie), also known as the Cape of Good Hope, was a British colony in present-day South Africa named after the Cape of Good Hope. It existed from 1795 to 1802, and again from 1806 to 1910, when it united with three other colonies to form the Union of South Africa, then became the Cape Province, which existed even after 1961, when South Africa had become a republic, albeit temporarily outside the Commonwealth of Nations (1961–94). The British colony was preceded by an earlier corporate colony that became an original Dutch colony of the same name, which was established in 1652 by the Dutch East India Company (VOC).
Why is Bechuanaland becomes part of Cape Colony significant?
The Cape Colony (Dutch: Kaapkolonie), also known as the Cape of Good Hope, was a British colony in present-day South Africa named after the Cape of Good Hope.

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