Cecil John Rhodes (Rhodes Cecil John)

(1853-1902)
Born July 5, 1853 in Bishops-Stortford (England) in the priest's family. In 1870 was sent to South Africa on a cotton farm, where his brother was already working. The following year, together with his brother went to Kimberley, where he managed to make a fortune during the diamond rush. Prosperous young man returned to England, graduated from the University of Oxford. Starting from scratch, Rhodes finally got control over 90% of world diamond production, and also acquired a significant portion of the shares of gold mining in South Africa. Rhodes is known for his concept of 'imperialism' - the reunification of all the English-speaking peoples, creation of a world federation, headed by Britain. All his wealth, he decided to use to distribute power from the British Cape Colony in Central Africa, then north up to the Egyptian regime and establish a government with the 'equal rights for all civilized' (ie. white) people. In 1884 engaged in accession to the British possessions, Bechuanaland, the territory north of the Cape Colony and to the west of the Transvaal. Five years later, has the charter for the British South Africa Company, which was supposed to manage and ensure the development of territories, later named in honor of Rhodes Rhodesia. In 1890 a detachment of pioneers led by Linder Jameson defeated Ndebele tribes and their land expropriated.
In 1890 with the support of the Boers and the British Rhodes became prime minister of Cape Colony. At this time, his influence has spread throughout South Africa, but the Transvaal (or the Republic of South Africa). With the support of Rhodes was made a plot to overthrow President Paul Kruger of the Transvaal. In December 1895 Jameson led an armed unit made to this end the raid, but was captured and imprisoned. Rhodes was forced to resign from all official posts, and it seemed that his career is over, but in 1897 he achieved his latest triumph, having reached a peace agreement with the tribes of Rhodesia after the uprising of Africans. During the Anglo-Boer War, was besieged in Kimberley (1899-1900). Rhodes died in Moytsenberge (Cape Colony) 26 March 1902.