Jan Kock

Johannes Hermanus Michiel 'Jan' Kock (11 March 1835 – 31 October 1899) was a Boer general and politician.

Life Kock was born in Graaff-Reinet the son of Johannes Lambertus Kock and Elsje Magdalena Smit. His father was a Boer commandant in Transorangia during the last phase of the Great Trek. His mother was the sister-in law of former president M.W. Pretorius. He travelled in the Great Trek with his parents and already at the age of 10 he accompanied his father at the Battle of Swartkoppies and at age 13 at the Battle of Boomplaats.

After the battle of Swartkoppies the family settled in Winburg and after Boomplaats, Kock and his father were declared outlaws and the family had to leave Winburg and crossed Vaal River and later settled on the farm, Witstinkhoutboom, in the Potchefstroom district. Kock bought this farm from his father in 1889. She was the daughter of Commandant-general Stephanus Schoeman and sister of General Hendrik Schoeman.