Denis Gem Shepstone

{{Short description|South African politician (1888–1966)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

Denis Gem Shepstone KStJ (7 February 1888 – 30 June 1966) was a South African politician.

Born in Durban, the grandson of Sir Theophilus Shepstone,{{Cite web |url=http://hiltoncollege.africamediaonline.com/user/download_watermark_image?branded_id=ITEM1967_02.pdf&media_id=1104_338 |title=The Hiltonian (February 1967) |access-date=15 September 2016 |archive-date=22 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122193016/http://hiltoncollege.africamediaonline.com/user/download_watermark_image?branded_id=ITEM1967_02.pdf&media_id=1104_338 |url-status=dead }} Shepstone studied law at Natal University College, obtaining the Natal Law Certificate in 1911.[http://www.sabar.co.za/law-journals/1995/april/1995-april-vol008-no1-pp37-41-and-44-48.pdf The Faculty of Law, university of Natal: Two in one by JRL Milton and DJ McQuoid-Mason] Shepstone served as Administrator of Natal Province from February 1948 to May 1958. He was appointed the first Chancellor of the University of Natal in 1949, a position he held until his death.[http://www.fad.co.za/Resources/uni/und.htm A short history of the University of Natal by Allan Jackson]

He was a member of the Senate of the Union of South Africa and a South African delegate to the General Assembly of the United Nations.

In 1959 he was appointed a Knight of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem by Queen Elizabeth II.[https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41604/page/308/data.pdf The London Gazette (13 January 1959)] Also in 1959, he received an honorary LLD from the University of Natal.[http://alumniaffairs.ukzn.ac.za/Libraries/convex_agm_and_award_2012/UKZN_List_of_Honorary_Graduates.sflb.ashx University of KwaZulu-Natal Honorary Graduates]

Denis Shepstone died on 30 June 1966, aged 78, in Pietermaritzburg.[http://www.1820settlers.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I58734&tree=master Denis Gem (Hon) Shepstone at 1820settlers.com]