| He made a fortune in diamonds at Kimberley, but Rhodes is perhaps best remembered as a statesman and for his legacy offunding scholarships at Oxford for Americans and others. Rhodesbecame prime minister of the Cape Colony in 1890 and was keenly interested in extending British control in Africa. Due to his efforts, Bechuanaland became a British protectorate in 1884 and hewas in large part responsible for securing the charter for theBritish South Africa Company in 1889. He served as managingdirector of the Company till 1896; its territory was later known as Rhodesia. During the Boer War, Rhodes organized Kimberley's defenses during the siege. |
