Cecil Rhodes

Cecil John Rhodes (July 5, 1853 – March 26, 1902) was an English businessman and the effective founder of the state of Rhodesia (which was named after him). Rhodesia (later Northern and Southern Rhodesia) eventually became Zambia and Zimbabwe. Rhodes profited greatly from Southern Africa's natural resources, proceeds of which founded the Rhodes Scholarship upon his death.

Rhodesia

Rhodes used his wealth to pursue his dream of creating a Britain's empire in Africa. His British South Africa Company, which had its own paramilitary police force, was used to control Mashonaland, in present day Zimbabwe. The company had hoped to start a 'new Rand' from the ancient gold mines of the Mashona, but the gold had largely been depleted long before, so many of the white settlers who accompanied the British South Africa Company to Mashonaland became farmers. When the Matabele and the Mashona rebelled against the coming of the white settlers to their land, the British South Africa Company crushed them. The conquered land was named Rhodesia in honour of Cecil Rhodes. As the company's influence extended north, land north of the Zambezi was claimed by the company and named Northern Rhodesia. Today, these territories form the states of Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Related Topics:
Britain's empire - Africa - British South Africa Company - Mashonaland - Matabele - Rhodesia - Zambezi - Northern Rhodesia - Zimbabwe - Zambia

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