On February 17, 1854, Britain recognized the independence of the Orange River Sovereignty in South Africa. On February 23, this recognition of independence would be made official with the signing of the Orange River Convention by British and Boer representatives. This formally established the Boer republic of the Orange Free State which would remain an independent republic until its annexation by Great Britain in 1902 following the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging at the end of the Second Boer War, becoming the Orange River Colony. The Orange River Colony would later unite with Natal Colony, Transvaal Colony, and Cape Colony to form the Union of South Africa in 1910 which would gain its independence from Britain in 1961 and become the Republic of South Africa.