Historedia
Person

Cecil Rhodes

Events
6
Episodes
14
Years
1888–1896

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Cecil Rhodes, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. De Beers Consolidated Mines founded in Kimberley

    1888

    Role: Founder; named secretary and chairman at the company's founding

    1. 1888 · KimberleyMerger of Mining Interests

      De Beers Consolidated Mines was formed in 1888 by merging the companies of diamond magnates Barney Barnato and Cecil Rhodes.

    2. 13 March 1888 · KimberleyFounding of De Beers Consolidated Mines

      Rhodes and Rudd launched the company on 13 March 1888, per a single passage, merging individual claims with financial support from N.M. Rothschild.

  2. Lobengula grants the Rudd Concession

    1888–1889

    Role: Politician and businessman

    1. 21 September 1888 · King's kraalArrival at the King's Kraal

      The Rudd party arrived at Lobengula's kraal in September 1888, ahead of rival agents, despite a ban on concession-seekers.

    2. 30 October 1888 · BulawayoSigning of the Rudd Concession

      King Lobengula signed the 25-year concession granting exclusive mining rights to Rhodes's agents on 30 October 1888.

    3. 5 December 1888 – January 1889 · Whitehall and BulawayoNotification to the Colonial Office

      Robinson informed the Colonial Office of the concession in December 1888, while news reached Bulawayo in January 1889.

    4. 23 April 1889 · LondonLobengula's Protest and Disavowal

      Lobengula attempted to disavow the concession, claiming oral restrictions were agreed, and formally protested to the Queen in April 1889.

  3. British South Africa Company receives its Royal Charter

    1889

    Role: Promoter who obtained the charter

    1. 1889 · unspecifiedFormation of the British South Africa Company

      The BSAC was chartered in 1889 following the amalgamation of Rhodes' Central Search Association and the Exploring Company Ltd to secure government backing.

    2. March 1889 to 1889 · LondonNegotiations for the Royal Charter

      Rhodes spent time in London in 1889 discussing the terms of the charter, including potential amalgamations.

    3. 29 October 1889 · LondonAuthorisation of the BSAC Police

      A Royal Charter authorised the formation of the British South Africa Company's Police on 29 October 1889.

    4. 20 December 1889 · unspecifiedRoyal Charter Comes Into Effect

      The Royal Charter of the British South Africa Company came into effect on 20 December 1889.

  4. British Ultimatum to Portugal

    1890

    Role: Founder of British South Africa Company pressuring for action

    1. 11 January 1890 · LondonDelivery of the Ultimatum

      Lord Salisbury sent a memorandum to the Portuguese Government on 11 January 1890, demanding the withdrawal of Portuguese troops from disputed territories.

  5. Founding of Salisbury, Rhodesia (Harare)

    1890

    Role: Organizer of the Pioneer Column

    1. 12 September 1890 · Fort Salisbury siteArrival and Founding

      The Pioneer Column arrived and founded the city as a fort on 12 September 1890, establishing the settlement under the British South Africa Company.

    2. 1 October 1890 · Fort Salisbury settlementDisbandment and Land Grants

      The Pioneer Corps was disbanded on 1 October 1890, with members granted land for farming.

  6. Jameson Raid ends in surrender and Cecil Rhodes resigns as Cape Prime Minister

    1896

    Role: Prime Minister of the Cape Colony

    1. 2 January 1896 · DoornkopSurrender at Doornkop

      Leander Starr Jameson surrendered to Boer forces at Doornkop on 2 January 1896, ending the Jameson Raid.

Sources

  1. De Beers Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-29
  2. Cecil Rhodes Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-05
  3. Rudd Concession Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-20
  4. British South Africa Company Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-09
  5. 1890 British Ultimatum Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-18
  6. Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1891 Wikipedia, revision of 2026-03-25
  7. Pioneer Column Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-13
  8. Harare Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-09
  9. Jameson Raid Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-22