Cecil Rhodes British politician, organizer of the British colonies in South and Central Africa, who gave the name to Rhodesia, which has sunk into oblivion. Date of Birth: 05.07.1853 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Cecil Rhodes
2. Vision of a United Anglophone World
3. Expansion into Central Africa
4. Last Triumph and Legacy

Biography of Cecil Rhodes

Cecil John Rhodes (1853-1902) was a British politician and organizer of English colonies in Southern and Central Africa, who gave his name to the once prosperous Rhodesia. He was born on July 5, 1853, in Bishop's Stortford, England, into a clergyman's family. Despite not having any money, connections, or a good education, and being in poor health, Rhodes ventured to South Africa in 1869, where he managed to make a fortune during the diamond rush in Kimberley. As a successful young man, he returned to England to receive an education at Oxford University, which he completed in 1881.

Vision of a United Anglophone World

Rhodes dreamed of reuniting all English-speaking people, promoting development in Asia and Africa with their assistance, and eventually establishing a global federation where English-speaking countries would play a leading role. Rhodes decided to use his wealth to expand British authority from the Cape Colony into Central Africa and further north to Egypt. However, distrustful of imperial authorities, he aimed to create a regime of self-government with "equal rights for all civilized people." Yet, the grandeur of his vision was marred by his questionable methods. He employed agents with dubious reputations and often shocked his interlocutors by speaking the unpleasant truth to their faces.

Expansion into Central Africa

In 1884, Rhodes began the process of annexing Bechuanaland, a territory north of the Cape Colony and west of Transvaal, to British possessions. Five years later, he obtained a charter for the British South Africa Company, which was tasked with governing and developing the territories later named Rhodesia in his honor. In 1890, a pioneering expedition led by Leander Jameson was sent there, defeating the Ndebele tribes and expropriating their lands. In 1891, with the support of both Boers and British, Rhodes became the Prime Minister of the Cape Colony. At that time, his political and financial influence dominated across South Africa, except for the Transvaal (or the South African Republic), where Boer influence prevailed, and many British citizens were deprived of political rights. With Rhodes' support, these British citizens organized a conspiracy to overthrow Transvaal President Paul Kruger. In December 1895, at the request of the conspirators, Jameson attempted to expedite the process with an armed raid but was captured and imprisoned. Rhodes was forced to resign from all official positions, and it seemed that his career had come to an end.

Last Triumph and Legacy

In 1897, Rhodes achieved his final triumph by reaching a peace agreement with the tribes of Rhodesia after a general African uprising. During the Second Boer War, he was in besieged Kimberley with British troops from 1899 to 1900. Rhodes passed away on March 26, 1902. According to his will, his remaining fortune, approximately £3 million, was used to establish scholarships for students from Britain's overseas possessions at Oxford University.