Johannes Hermanus Michiel Kock | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1835-03-11)11 March 1835 |
| Died | 31 October 1899(1899-10-31) (aged 64) |
| Allegiance |  South African Republic |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | South African Republic |
| Conflicts | |
| Spouse | Catharina Christina Susanna Schoeman |
| Other work | farmer, landdrost |
Johannes Hermanus Michiel 'Jan' Kock (11 March 1835 – 31 October 1899) was aBoer general and politician.[1]
Kock was born inGraaff-Reinet the son of Johannes Lambertus Kock and Elsje Magdalena Smit.[2] His father was a Boer commandant inTransorangia during the last phase of theGreat Trek. His mother was the sister-in law of former presidentM.W. Pretorius.[3] He travelled in the Great Trek with his parents and already at the age of 10 he accompanied his father at theBattle of Swartkoppies and at age 13 at theBattle of Boomplaats.
After the battle of Swartkoppies the family settled inWinburg and after Boomplaats, Kock and his father were declared outlaws and the family had to leave Winburg and crossed Vaal River and later settled on the farm, Witstinkhoutboom, in thePotchefstroom district. Kock bought this farm from his father in 1889.[1]
At the age of 20 he married Catharina Christina Schoeman on 15 Jul 1854 atPotchefstroom.[4] She was the daughter of Commandant-generalStephanus Schoeman and sister of General Hendrik Schoeman.[3]
As an adult he was alanddrost inPotchefstroom and representative for that district in theVolksraad (the parliament of theSouth African Republic). He was also involved in church affairs and was largely responsible for the adoption of policies stating thatProtestant ministers be paid from state funds. During theFirst Boer War he distinguished himself as a general in the fighting at Potchefstroom in 1880–1881.[1]
With the outbreak of the war he was placed in charge of theJohannesburg commando and theGerman Corps. He invadedNatal and was instructed to blow up the railway lines but did not follow instructions exactly. Instead, he occupied a railway station atElandslaagte which led to theBattle of Elandslaagte on 21 October 1899. Under his command the Boers lost the battle and Kock was wounded and captured by the British. He died a few days later from his wounds inLadysmith in theColony of Natal.[5]