Philip Rudolph Botha (30 June 1851 – 6 March 1901) was a Second Boer War general, like his younger brothers Louis (1862-1919), Christiaan (1864–1902) and Theunis Jacobus (1867–1930).

[1][2] Philip was the eldest son among seven sons and eight daughters born to Louis Botha Senior (Somerset East, Eastern Cape, 26 March 1827 – Harrismith, Orange Free State, 5 July 1883) and Salomina Adriana van Rooyen (Somerset East, 31 March 1829 – Harrismith, 9 January 1886).

[6] At the outbreak of the Second Boer War Philip Botha volunteered as a soldier for the Orange Free State and became leader of the Kroonstad Commando.

[7] In 1900, he was appointed fighting general (Afrikaans:Veggeneraal) and Assistant Chief Commandant under Christiaan de Wet, tried in vain to break the encirclement of Piet Cronjé and his troops at Paardeberg and fought in the Battle of Poplar Grove on 7 March 1900.

[8] In January 1901 Philip Botha ordered the execution of British Lieutenant Cecil Boyle who was accused of ill treatment of Boer women and children in Dewetsdorp.