Difference between revisions of "Barney Barnato"
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==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
| − | Born Barnett Isaacs ("Barney") in | + | Born Barnett Isaacs ("Barney") in Aldgate, London on 21 February 1851, he was the son of Isaac and Leah Isaacs and grew up in Whitechapel, the very poor East End of London in an area that was predominantly a Jewish neighborhood. He was educated at the Jewish Free School in London, and when he and his brother Harry were teenagers, the began to performed 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 utilised the phrase "Bar-na-to" and called themselves the "Barnato Brothers". |
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| + | Came to South Africa circa 187-1875 as an impoverished boxer and entertainer. Successful investments in Kimberley diamonds turned him into a major mining magnate and life Governor of De Beers Consolidated Mines (which he and Rhodes founded in 1888). Member of Cape Parliament for Kimberley (1889-1897) and founder of Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Co. in 1889. | ||
Barnato died when he allegedly fell overboard in mid-ocean when travelling from England. | Barnato died when he allegedly fell overboard in mid-ocean when travelling from England. | ||
Revision as of 05:21, 31 August 2021
Barney Barnato can refer to actual person, or to the title of the TV mini-series made of his colourful life (1989).
Contents
Barney Barnato (1852-1897)
Barney Barnato was a mining magnate, boxer and entertainer.
Biography
Born Barnett Isaacs ("Barney") in Aldgate, London on 21 February 1851, he was the son of Isaac and Leah Isaacs and grew up in Whitechapel, the very poor East End of London in an area that was predominantly a Jewish neighborhood. He was educated at the Jewish Free School in London, and when he and his brother Harry were teenagers, the began to performed 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 utilised the phrase "Bar-na-to" and called themselves the "Barnato Brothers".
Came to South Africa circa 187-1875 as an impoverished boxer and entertainer. Successful investments in Kimberley diamonds turned him into a major mining magnate and life Governor of De Beers Consolidated Mines (which he and Rhodes founded in 1888). Member of Cape Parliament for Kimberley (1889-1897) and founder of Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Co. in 1889.
Barnato died when he allegedly fell overboard in mid-ocean when travelling from England.
Contribiution to South African theatre and performance
In the period 1870-1875 he was one of the performers who performed in "Entertainments" at the Good Hope Gardens, and when he first arrived on the diamond fields, he initially continued his interest in both boxing and theatre, often appearing on stage in the old Theatre Royal in Kimberley. He was popular with the miners for his fiery performances, despite his lack of education and uncouth pronunciation. Apparently great in character parts, he also played "Iago" once in a production of Othello in aid of the Kimberley hospital. (He had offered to double the takings, if allowed to play the part.)
In Johannesburg the Little Theatre was renamed the Barnato Theatre in his honour.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_Barnato
See: Bosman 1928, Bosman, 1981, Fletcher, 1994, De Beer, 1995
Barney Barnato (TV mini-series, 1989)
Sources
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6240158/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm
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