Nico Diederichs

Nicolaas Johannes "Nico" Diederichs (17 November 1903, Ladybrand[1] – 21 August 1978) served as the third State President of South Africa from 1975 to 1978.[2]

Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs
3rd State President of South Africa
In office
10 October 1975 – 21 August 1978
Prime MinisterB. J. Vorster
Preceded byJacobus Johannes Fouché
Succeeded byB. J. Vorster
Minister of Finance
In office
1967–1975
Preceded byEben Dönges
Succeeded byOwen Horwood
Personal details
Born(1903-11-17)17 November 1903
Ladybrand, South Africa
Died21 August 1978(1978-08-21) (aged 74)
Cape Town, South Africa
CitizenshipSouth African
Political partyNational Party
Spouse(s)Marga Potgieter (1907-1998)
Children4
Alma materUniversity of Munich
University of Cologne
Leiden University
Nickname(s)Nico

An economist, Diederichs obtained a doctorate from the University of Leiden.[1] During the 1930s and 1940s he became a prominent figure in Afrikaner nationalist circles. He founded the Reddingsdaadbond organisation to promote the economic wellbeing of Afrikaners.

Life and career

Diederichs was a National Party member of Parliament from 1953 to 1975. He served as Minister of Economic Affairs from 1958 to 1967, as Minister of Mines from 1961 to 1964, and as Minister of Finance from 1967 to 1975. In the latter capacity he became known as "Mr Gold." He served as the first chancellor of the Rand Afrikaans University and ceremonial State President from 1975 until his death, after a short illness, of a heart attack on 21 August 1978 in Cape Town.

Publications by Nicolaas Diederichs (selection)
  • Nicolaas Diederichs: Vom Leiden und Dulden. Bonn, 1930. (Dissertation Leiden University)
  • N. Diederichs: Die Volkebond, sy ontstaan, samestelling en werksaamhede. Pretoria, 1933
  • N. Diederichs: Nasionalisme as lewensbeskouing en sy verhouding tot internasionalisme. Bloemfontein, 1936
gollark: Now I want my own TBM. Worrying.
gollark: Why base64?!
gollark: I have BEATEN the silly theoretical computer scientists.
gollark: It's O(1) because it only works up to 2^53 or something.
gollark: This doesn't really matter. PotatOS ships its own prime factorisation program *for* you.

References
Specific
  1. "Biography of Diederichs, Nicolaas". Archontology.org. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  2. "Presidency in South Africa". SouthAfricaWeb.co.za. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
Bibliography
  • Eric Rosenthal (ed.): Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa. Juta and Company Limited, Kaapstad en Johannesburg, 1978.
Political offices
Preceded by
Johannes de Klerk (acting)		 State President of South Africa
1975–1978		 Succeeded by
B. J. Vorster
Preceded by
Theophilus Donges		 Finance ministers of South Africa
1967–1975		 Succeeded by
Owen Horwood
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