Deneys Reitz was born in Bloemfontein, the capital of the independent Boer Republic of the Orange Free State (OFS) on April 2, 1882. After fighting in the Second Boer War (1899-1902), he refused to swear allegiance to the British Empire, and chose exile on the French-ruled island of Madagascar, which lies off Africa's east coast. After failing to establish himself in Madagascar, he returned to South Africa in 1907, having been invited by his commander and friend, former Boer General Jan Smuts. He went on to found a highly successful law firm, still in existence to the present day, and served with distinction in the Union of South Africa Defence Force in the campaigns in German South West Africa, and on the Western Front in France. Elected to Parliament in 1929, he became deputy Prime Minister of South Africa under Jan Smuts in 1939. As Smuts was often absent from the country during the war years, Reitz was effectively in charge of South Africa during these absences, and for much of the time even when Smuts was back. By 1943, however, his health had failed, and he was given the less demanding post of ambassador to Britain. He died in October 1944.