Harry Barnato

Harry Barnato was a music hall performer and mining magnate

See also Barney Barnato and Barnato Brothers

Biography

Born Henry Isaacs in London in 1849 to Isaac Isaacs, owner of a prosperous small general dealership, and the his wife, the former Leah Harris. Like his younger brother, Barnett (later known as Barney Barnato), Harry attended the Jews’ Free School, Spitalfields, headed by Moses Angel.

When he and his brother Barney Isaacs were teenagers, they began to perform turns in the various music halls in their vicinity. They were initially billed as "the Great Henry Isaacs and Barnett too", but at Barney's suggestion they later converted the phrase "Barnett too" to "Bar-na-to" and thenceforth adopted it as their surname, calling call themselves Harry Barnato and Barney Barnato or the "Barnato Brothers".

In 1871 Harry left England for the Kimberley diamond fields in South Africa. At first, not being immediately successful, he resorted to his former stage career, performing as a conjurer and entertainer using the professional name of “H. I. Barnato”. A little later he became a diamond-dealer and wrote home advising his brother to join him.

Barnett sailed for Cape Town in 1873, without funds for the overland travel to Kimberley. After doing some stage work in Cape Town to raise funds, Barney set out again and and reached Kimberley with about £50 in his pocket. Finding his brother to be generally known as “Harry Barnato,” he began to sign himself “B. I. Barnato” and became popularly referred to as “Barney Barnato.” Initially, Barney joined in his brother's ventures on stage and added to that his boxing skills, by opening a gymnasium and training those who wished to become pugilists.

In 1874 Barney and Harry commenced serious business as diamond dealers under the name of “Barnato Brothers” and in 1876 Barney purchased four claims in the Kimberley mine. From this would come a large diamond and gold empire.

In addition to his mining activities, Harry also ran another business in Kimberley , namely the London Hotel, a venture he sold in May 1878.

In 1880 Barney visited London and established the firm of Barnato Brothers (financiers and diamond dealers) in Austin Friars, with Harry (now back in London) controlling this side of the business.

Harry was married three times (to Rachael Pollock Barnato, Charlotte Maud Ireson Barnato and Rebecca Barnato), and passed away in London on 30 November 1908.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

On 29 October 1872 he staged his first show on the Diamond Fields.

Sources

https://www.kimberley.org.za/today-kimberleys-history-29-october/

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1923. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman, 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [1]: pp.

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.

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