Who was Cecil John Rhodes? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In July

Also Known As: Cecil Rhodes

Died At Age: 48

Family:

father: Francis William Rhodes

mother: Louisa Peacock Rhodes

siblings: Francis William Rhodes

Philanthropists British Men

Died on: March 26, 1902

place of death: Muizenberg, Cape Colony

Founder/Co-Founder: De Beers

More Facts

education: Oriel College

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1

What was Cecil John Rhodes known for?

Cecil John Rhodes was known for being a British businessman, mining magnate, and politician in South Africa. He played a dominant role in Southern Africa in the late 19th century, particularly in the British colonization of what is now Zimbabwe and Zambia.
2

What was Cecil John Rhodes' role in the colonization of Southern Africa?

Cecil John Rhodes was a key figure in the colonization of Southern Africa by the British Empire. He founded the British South Africa Company, which played a significant role in the colonization and exploitation of territories in the region.
3

What is Cecil John Rhodes' connection to the "Scramble for Africa?"

Cecil John Rhodes was closely associated with the "Scramble for Africa," which was the rapid colonization and annexation of African territories by European powers in the late 19th century. Rhodes was a strong advocate for British expansion in Africa and played a major role in advancing British interests on the continent.
4

How did Cecil John Rhodes impact the indigenous populations of Southern Africa?

Cecil John Rhodes' actions in Southern Africa had a significant impact on the indigenous populations of the region. His policies and actions led to the displacement, subjugation, and exploitation of many indigenous peoples, particularly in territories such as Zimbabwe and Zambia.
5

What is Cecil John Rhodes' legacy in modern-day Southern Africa?

Cecil John Rhodes' legacy in modern-day Southern Africa is a complex and controversial one. While he is remembered as a prominent figure in the history of the region, his actions and policies have been widely criticized for their negative impact on indigenous populations and for contributing to the lasting legacy of colonialism in the region.

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Childhood & Early Life

Cecil Rhodes was born in Hertfordshire, England, to Reverend Francis William Rhodes and his wife Louisa Peacock Rhodes. His father was a vicar in the Church of England.

He attended the Bishop’s Stortford Grammar School but he was asthmatic and had to be taken out of school because of health issues.

When Rhodes was 16, he was sent off to South Africa in the hopes that his health would improve in a better climate. His brother Herbert was already working there.

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Career

He arrived at South Africa in 1870 and joined his brother on the cotton farm he operated.

During that time, it was newly discovered that diamonds were available in abundant quantities in the Kimberly area. The Rhodes brothers joined the diamond rush in 1871 and worked at open-pit mines. They managed to earn a small fortune and learned a lot about the diamond business.

In 1873, he went to England to complete his studies. He enrolled at Oriel College, Oxford but stayed for only one term before returning to South Africa. He would travel back and forth to Oxford and South Africa before finally earning his B.A. degree in 1881.

He worked hard in the diamond business over the next few years and began buying all the smaller diamond mining operations in Kimberly with financing from N. M. Rothschild & Sons.

He established the De Beers Mining Company in 1880. Along with his brother Frank he also formed the Goldfields of South Africa which consisted of several large mines in the Transvaal.

An ardent supporter of British Imperialism, his dream was to expand the British Empire to cover the whole world. His political interests led to his election as a member of the Cape Parliament in 1880.

One of his biggest rivals in the diamond business was Barnie Barnato with whom he collaborated to form the De Beers Consolidated Mines in 1888.

He formed the British South Africa Company (BSAC) in 1889 and became the Prime Minister of the Cape in 1890.

He obtained a royal charter from the British Empire to occupy Mashonaland and occupied the Matabeleland as well. Soon the BSAC controlled a vast territory of land which was renamed Rhodesia in 1895.

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He supported the Jameson Raid—a planned attack on the Transvaal—in December 1895. The attack was a failure and resulted in the capture of Leander Jameson, the administrator of Rhodesia. Rhodes had to resign as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony because of this incident.

The Jameson Raid fiasco ultimately led to outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War in 1899. The war ended shortly after his death in 1902.

Major Works

He founded the De Beers diamond company which markets around 40% of the rough diamonds today. The company dominates the diamond business and is involved in open-pit, underground, coastal and deep sea mining in countries such as South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia.

As a politician, he strived hard to bring as much land as possible under the British Empire. Over his political career he is credited to have brought approximately one million square miles of African land under the British rule.

Personal Life & Legacy

He never married. He had a very close relationship with Neville Pickering leading to speculations that he might have been homosexual. Pickering’s death devastated Rhodes further adding to this speculation.

He was very close to his friend Leander Jameson. Jameson took care of Rhodes during his final days, and continued living in the mansion the men had shared even after Rhodes’s death.

He suffered from ill health throughout his relatively short life. He had his first heart attack when he was hardly in his twenties, and his heart condition worsened with age. He died from heart failure in 1902, aged 48.

He was a very wealthy man at the time of his death and in his last will he bequeathed a vast amount to the Oxford University for the establishment of the Rhodes scholarships for selected foreign students to study at the University.

His will also provided for the establishment of The Rhodes Trust, an educational charity, which provided funds for the establishment of the Rhodes University in South Africa.

Facts About Cecil John Rhodes

Cecil John Rhodes had a fascination with astrology and believed in the power of the stars to influence his decisions and success.

Rhodes had a pet parrot named "Pollux" that he was known to dote on and treat like a member of the family.

Rhodes was a collector of rare books and artifacts, amassing a significant personal library that reflected his wide-ranging interests and intellectual curiosity.

Cecil John Rhodes Biography

You wanted to know

What was Cecil John Rhodes known for?

What was Cecil John Rhodes' role in the colonization of Southern Africa?

What is Cecil John Rhodes' connection to the "Scramble for Africa?"

How did Cecil John Rhodes impact the indigenous populations of Southern Africa?

What is Cecil John Rhodes' legacy in modern-day Southern Africa?