Harry Oppenheimer

Harry Frederick Oppenheimer (28 October 1908 - 19 August 2000), was a prominent South African businessman and one of the world's richest men.

Table of contents

1 Family origins 2 Education and marriage 3 Chairman of Anglo American Corporation and De Beers 4 Politics 5 Anti-Apartheid activism 6 External links

Family origins

The son of Ernest Oppenheimer (who was soon to found Anglo American Corporation, and become chairman of De Beers Consolidated Mines), Harry was born to an assimilated Jewish family of German origins in Kimberley, the original centre for diamond mining in South Africa, and lived most of his life in Johannesburg.

Education and marriage

After completing his primary schooling in Johannesburg, he attended Charterhouse school in England, before going on to study at Christ Church College, Oxford University, graduating in 1931 in philosophy, politics and economics. When he married his wife Bridget, he chose to enter the Anglican Church, yet nevertheless he remained a supporter of Jewish causes during his entire life. He authorised the flow of diamonds to Israel's important diamond-sorting and diamond-cutting industry.

Chairman of Anglo American Corporation and De Beers

Harry Oppenheimer was the chairman of Anglo American Corporation for a quarter of a century and chairman of De Beers Consolidated Mines for 27 years until he retired from those positions in 1982 and 1984 respectively.

Politics

He also spent some time as the Member of Parliament for Kimberley (1948 to 1957) and became the opposition spokesman on economics, finance and constitutional affairs. His opposition to apartheid was well known as were his philanthropy and business acumen.

Anti-Apartheid activism

In the 1970s and 1980s, he financed the anti-apartheid Progressive Federal Party , now known as the Democratic Alliance. Some people believe that he could have done more to end the regime, but within his sphere of influence he probably did more than most of his fellow-businessmen.

External links

Read more about his life and achievements at Harry Oppenheimer