John Brebner

The Reverend Dr John Brebner (18**-19**) was an Educator and the first Superintendent General of Education of the Orange Free State.

Biography

Born and educated in Scotland, he was offered the position as Inspector of Education (till 1891), and then as Superintendent of Education from 1891-1899 by the Volksraad of the Orange Free State and removed to Bloemfontein in January, 1874, after the death of his wife.

In this time he did pioneering work in restoring quality education to the province as well as unifying education in schools. Brebner High School in Bloemfontein was named after him.

Contribution to theatre and performance in South Africa

Besides this work he was also the initiator of the Winter Evenings Entertainments regularly held in Bloemfontein between 1875 and 1890.

[TH, JH]

Sources

Du Toit, 1988

Memoir of the life and work of Rev. John Brebner, late superintendent of education in the Orange Free State, South Africa Publisher: Lorimer and Chalmers, 1903

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