16 Facts About Alfred Beit

Alfred Beit was an Anglo-German gold and diamond magnate in South Africa, and a major donor and profiteer of infrastructure development on the African continent.

Alfred Beit donated much money to university education and research in several countries, and was the "silent partner" who structured the capital flight from post-Boer War South Africa to Rhodesia.

Alfred Beit made his first fortune in property speculation in South Africa.

Alfred Beit became a business friend of Cecil Rhodes through his role in the Kimberley Central Company.

Alfred Beit rapidly became one of a group of financiers who gained control of the diamond-mining claims in the Central, Dutoitspan, and De Beers mines.

Rhodes was the active politician and Alfred Beit provided a lot of the planning and financial backing.

Alfred Beit focused his main attention on the Kimberley Central Company aiming to expand its interests.

Alfred Beit had a major role in the rise of Kimberley Central Company.

Alfred Beit imported mining engineers from the US and was among the first to adopt deep-level mining.

Rhodes purportedly was granted concessions by Lobengula, as a result of which Alfred Beit founded the British South Africa Company in 1888.

Alfred Beit became life-governor of De Beers and a director of numerous other companies such as Rand Mines, Rhodesia Railways and the Beira Railway Company.

In 1888 Alfred Beit moved to London when he felt he was better able to manage his financial empire and support Rhodes in his Southern African ambitions.

Alfred Beit moved into Tewin Water, Tewin, near Welwyn, a large Regency house with Victorian additions and 7,000 acres, and a few miles away Julius Wernher bought Luton Hoo, with 5,218 acres.

Alfred Beit was obliged to resign as director of the British South Africa Company, but was elected vice-president a few years later.

Alfred Beit died at Tewin Water on 16 July 1906 after seeing a rapid deterioration in his health.

In recognition of his bequests the Royal School of Mines, a faculty of Imperial College London, erected a large memorial to Alfred Beit flanking the entrance to its building.