Our family connections - Ons familie verwantskappe

Consequence of signing the Treaty of Paris (3 Sep 1783).

The Dutch East India Company is in financial ruins. 29 January – Farmers expelled the officials of the Dutch East India Company and established an independent government at Graaff Reinet. 18 June - Swellendam follows Graaff Reinet and declares a republic under Hermanus Steyn. The Netherlands is invaded by the French under the leadership of Napoléon Bonaparte. A republic is declared by Dutch revolutionaires and the Prince of Orange flees to England. 16 September – British forces under General Sir James Henry Craig seizes the Cape Colony for the Stadtholder Prince William V of Orange. The republics of Graaff Reinet and Swellendam reject the British and the British army is sent in. The start of free trade was announced.

17 March - The first British settlers arrived in Table Bay, Cape Town on the Nautilus and the Chapman. 1 May - The Albury reaches Cape Town bringing settlers to Albany, South Africa. They arrive in Algoa Bay on 15 May. 2 May - La Belle Alliance reached Cape Town. She brought British settlers to Algoa Bay. 4000 British settlers started arriving in Algoa Bay (Port Elizabeth), they settled in Grahamstown and along the frontier.