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Basil ZaharoffGreek arms dealer, businessman and financier
Date of Birth: 06.10.1849
Country:  Greece |
Content:
- Sir Basil Zaharoff: The International Man of Mystery
- Rise in Constantinople
- London and the Nordefelt Affair
- Friendship with Skouloudis and Entry into the Arms Trade
- Years of Conflict and Armament Sales
Sir Basil Zaharoff: The International Man of Mystery
Early Life and OriginsBasil Zaharoff was born on October 6, 1849, in Mugla, Asia Minor, to a Greek family. His family had adopted the surname "Zaharoff" during their exile in Russia following the anti-Greek Easter Pogroms of 1821. The family's Russian period influenced Basil's fluent Russian language skills. They returned to Turkey in the 1840s and resided in the poor Tatavla district of Constantinople.
Rise in Constantinople
As a young boy, Zaharoff worked as a tourist guide, escorting travelers to the notorious Galata district known for its illicit pleasures. He later became a fireman, who in the 19th-century Constantinople, often engaged in unorthodox activities such as rescuing valuables for compensation and even racketeering. Subsequently, he became a money changer, facing unconfirmed allegations of passing counterfeit currency to unsuspecting tourists.
London and the Nordefelt Affair
In 1866, Zaharoff arrived in London and became embroiled in a scandal involving illegal business dealings, including the illicit transport of valuables from Constantinople. The Greek diaspora in London preferred to resolve such matters internally. After paying compensation to the plaintiff and agreeing to remain within the court's jurisdiction, Zaharoff promptly left for Athens.
Friendship with Skouloudis and Entry into the Arms Trade
In Athens, Zaharoff befriended Etienne Skouloudis, a political journalist. His eloquence in explaining his London predicament persuaded Skouloudis of his innocence. By chance, one of Skouloudis's friends, a Swedish captain, was retiring from his position as a representative for the arms manufacturer, Thorsten Nordenfelt. Skouloudis recommended Zaharoff for the vacancy, and on October 14, 1877, he became the sales agent for the Nordenfelt Gun Company. This marked the beginning of a remarkable career in the arms industry.
Years of Conflict and Armament Sales
The tumultuous political and military situation in the Balkans provided a fertile ground for Zaharoff's endeavors. With countries such as Turkey, Austria-Hungary, and Germany facing off against Russia, France, and Great Britain, armament expenditures soared as each side sought to counter their perceived rivals' aggressive plans. Zaharoff, with his extensive connections and linguistic abilities, excelled in navigating this complex geopolitical landscape, securing lucrative arms contracts for Nordenfelt.
