About Ben Viljoen
Benjamin Johannes "Ben" Viljoen (7 September 1869 – 14 January 1917) was an Afrikaner-American consul, soldier, farmer, Maderista, and Boer general. == Early life == Viljoen was born in a cave in the Wodehouse district of the Cape Colony to Susanna Magdalena Storm (January 17, 1842 – Fabens, El Paso, Texas, United States, February 22, 1925) and Wynand Johannes Viljoen (Swellendam, South Africa, 1842 – Bakersfield, California, United States, 1914). This cave was the temporary residence of the Viljoen family while their farm house was being constructed. He spent his early years on the Varkiesdraai farm near Umtata. He attained the position of Assistant Commandant-General of the Transvaal Burgher Forces and was member for Krugersdorp in the Transvaal Volksraad. He was a South African Freemason. == Krugersdorpse Vrywilligerskorps and the Volksraad == In 1890 he moved to Johannesburg and in 1896 he founded the Krugersdorpse Vrywilligerskorps experiencing combat with the Jameson Raiders. On the Uitlander issue, Viljoen was an ally of Paul Kruger. He is famously attributed to saying in the Volksraad that it was time to put trust in "God and the Mauser". == First phase of the war == With the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Boer War he first did service in the Colony of Natal.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.