Francis William Reitz Sr.

Francis William Reitz Sr. MLC MLA (31 December 1810 – 26 June 1881) was an influential member of both houses of the Parliament of the Cape of Good Hope.

He was baptised "Francis William" only after his parents' chosen name for him (François Guillaume) was rejected by the English Chaplain for sounding too French.

He was generally more theoretical than practical in his interests, but he was enormously influential in his writing of academic papers on farming as well as starting book clubs and agricultural societies.

Dr White and Frank Reitz were described as a well-known, characterful duo, "lovably Dickensian in their ways and appearance", prone to "parish-pump preoccupation", and with a kindly, inclusive approach to all in the community.

He first served on the early, weak & nominal Legislative Council from 6 September 1850, when he was elected, together with Andries Stockenström, Christoffel Brand and John Fairbairn.

When the Cape attained its first real parliament in 1854, Reitz was elected to represent the Western half of the country (which was at the time divided into two "Provinces").