ID: 2546
Signed and dated Power of Attorney in his capacity as Trustee of the Estate of the late Cecil John Rhodes
KIPLING, Rudyard
Category: History
Place/Publisher/Date:
London, No Publisher. 1919.
Description:
Signed and dated Power of Attorney in his capacity as Trustees of the late Cecil John Rhodes estate, relating to farms in Melsetter, part of Chimanimani District, in modern Zimbabwe. Also signed by fellow trustees Viscount Milner, Rt. Hon. Baron Lovat and Sir Otto Beit, dated 6th October 1919. Together a notaries letter certifying the signatures.
Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) and Cecil John Rhodes (1853 – 1902) were great friends, Kipling wrote a poem dedicated to Rhodes that was read at his funeral and Leander Starr Jameson, the subject of Kipling's "If", was introduced to Kipling by Rhodes.
Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner, (1854 – 1925) was a British statesman and colonial administrator who played a role in the formulation of British foreign and domestic policy between the mid-1890s and early 1920s. From December 1916 to November 1918, he was one of the most important members of Prime Minister David Lloyd George's War Cabinet.
Major-General Simon Joseph Fraser, 14th Lord Lovat (1871 – 1933), was a leading Roman Catholic aristocrat, landowner, forester, soldier, politician and the 23rd Chief of Clan Fraser.
Sir Otto John Beit, 1st Baronet, (1865 – 1930) was born in Hamburg, Germany, He came to England in 1888, where he joined the stockbroking firm of Wernher, Beit & Co. In 1890 he left for South Africa to gain experience in the diamond industry. He remained for six years and played an active role in the development of Rand Gold Mines. He became a naturalised British citizen in 1896. He fell under the spell of Cecil Rhodes's imperialist vision and was his house-guest at the time of the Jameson Raid. On his return to London, he followed for a few years the career of stockbroker and continued with his interest in the mining industry. Otto was the younger brother of Alfred Beit (1853 – 1906) a gold and diamond magnate in South Africa, and a major donor and profiteer of infrastructure development on the African continent. He was the "silent partner" who structured the capital flight from post-Boer War South Africa to Rhodesia, and the Rhodes Scholarship, named after his employee, Cecil Rhodes. He took part in the planning and financing of the Jameson Raid.
By 1910, the hardline imperialism that Kipling developed alongside his friendship with the colonial plunderer Cecil Rhodes meant that "his reputation was damaged, and would remain damaged". (The Economist).
Two pages signed letter torn to top right corner and both documents with punch holes for filing.
Price £1250.00
