Origins & Early Life

Sir Ernest Oppenheimer (22 May 1880 – 25 November 1957) was a South African diamond and gold mining entrepreneur, financier and philanthropist, who controlled De Beers and founded the Anglo American Corporation in the Union of South Africa. Ernest Oppenheimer was born in Friedberg, German Empire, to a German-Jewish family. He was the son of Edward Oppenheimer, a cigar merchant, and his wife, Nanette (née Hirschhorn) Oppenheimer. He began his working life at 17, when he entered Dunkelsbuhler & Company, a diamond brokerage in London.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His efforts impressed his employer and in 1902, at the age of 22, he was sent to South Africa to represent the company as a buyer in Kimberley, of which he went on to become the mayor from 1912 to 1915. In this role, he helped raise the manpower for the Kimberley Regiment for service during World War I. He became great friends with William Lincoln Honnold, an American engineer and chairman of Transvaal Coal Trust, Brakpan Mines, Springs Mines and The New Era Company. In 1917, they launched the Anglo American Corporation with financial assistance from J. P.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Morgan. He was knighted in 1921. The initial capital was £1 million. Half of the capital...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alfred Wegener — Contemporary (Born in 1880) (1880): Pioneering geophysicist known for proposing the theory of continental drift.
• Douglas MacArthur — Contemporary (Born in 1880) (1880): Distinguished U.S. General who commanded forces in WWII, Korea, and Japan.
• Ernst Ludwig Kirchner — Contemporary (Born in 1880) (1880): Pioneering German Expressionist painter and founder of Die Brücke.
• Arturo Toscanini — Contemporary (Died in 1957) (1957): Intense Italian conductor, master of orchestral detail, and pivotal figure in 20th-century music.
• Constantin Brâncuși — Contemporary (Died in 1957) (1957): Pioneer of modern sculpture, Brâncuși emphasized clean lines and elemental forms.
• Diego Rivera — Contemporary (Died in 1957) (1957): Pioneering Mexican muralist whose frescoes defined modern Mexican art.
• Alessandro Manzoni — Shared historical date (05-22 · Died) (1873): Master poet and novelist whose work fueled the Italian Risorgimento and language unity.
• Arthur Conan Doyle — Shared historical date (05-22 · Born) (1859): Pioneering author of Sherlock Holmes and speculative fiction master.
• Abbé Prévost — Shared historical date (11-25 · Died) (1763): French novelist, best known for the highly popular romance, Manon Lescaut.
• Andrea Doria — Shared historical date (11-25 · Died) (1560): Prominent Genoese statesman, condottiero, and admiral who dominated Mediterranean naval power.
• 1880 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1880
• May 22 (05-22) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on May 22
• 1957 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1957
• November 25 (11-25) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on November 25