Charles Dunell Rudd (1844–1916)
Why Kimberley Matters
Over the years, we have noticed that many of our guests—whether visiting Kimberley for business or leisure—have wondered why this remarkable city has played such an important role in South Africa's history over the past 160 years.
These pages invite you on a coffee-table journey through Kimberley's past, from the discovery of the Eureka Diamond in 1867 and the Great Diamond Rush, through wars, political change and the rise of the world's diamond industry, to the city we know today. They are not intended to be an academic history, but rather an enjoyable introduction to the people, places and events that shaped Kimberley.
So, make yourself comfortable, pour a cappuccino or a cup of chai, and enjoy exploring the remarkable story of one of South Africa's most fascinating cities.
Charles Dunnell Rudd, one of the most important businessmen in South African history
From Norfolk to Kimberley
Charles Dunell Rudd was born in Norfolk, England, in 1844. As a young man he travelled to southern Africa, possibly attracted by both the opportunities offered by the rapidly expanding colonies and the belief that a warmer climate would benefit his health following the death of his mother from tuberculosis.
Like many ambitious young men of his generation, Rudd worked at a variety of occupations before finding his true opportunity on the Diamond Fields. Contemporary accounts suggest his early years were far from easy, with several business setbacks before fortune finally smiled upon him. By 1870, he had established himself on the Kimberley Diamond Fields, where the following year he was joined by another young Englishman, nineteen-year-old Cecil John Rhodes.
A Remarkable Partnership
The friendship between Charles Rudd and Cecil Rhodes became one of the most important business partnerships in South African history. During Kimberley's early years, the pair invested not only in mining claims but also in supplying the rapidly growing town with goods and equipment. Among their more unusual ventures was importing Kimberley's first ice-making machine in 1871, providing a luxury few frontier settlements could enjoy.
As their wealth increased, they steadily acquired mining claims, recognising that Kimberley's future depended upon consolidating the numerous small diggings into larger, professionally managed operations. In 1880 they established the De Beers Mining Company, with Charles Rudd serving as Chairman and Managing Director while Rhodes became the company's first Secretary. Eight years later, the formation of De Beers Consolidated Mines transformed Kimberley into the centre of the world's diamond industry.
Did You Know?
Charles Rudd and Cecil Rhodes imported Kimberley's first ice-making machine in 1871, bringing one of the Diamond Fields' earliest modern luxuries to the rapidly growing mining town.
The Rudd Concession
Charles Rudd's influence extended well beyond Kimberley. In October 1888 he travelled with Rochfort Maguire and Frank "Matabele" Thompson to Bulawayo, where they negotiated directly with King Lobengula of the Ndebele Kingdom on behalf of Cecil Rhodes. The resulting agreement became known as the Rudd Concession.
The concession granted mineral rights over a vast area and later formed part of the legal foundation for the British South Africa Company's Royal Charter. The agreement remains one of the most debated episodes in southern African history. Supporters argued that it was a legitimate commercial agreement, while critics believed Lobengula had not fully understood its implications. Whatever the interpretation, the concession profoundly influenced the subsequent history of present-day Zimbabwe.
King Lobengula of the amaNdebele (left) photographed in 1888 with Frank "Matabele" Thompson during the negotiations that led to the Rudd Concession. The photograph is widely believed to be the only surviving image of King Lobengula. Courtesy of the Africana Museum, Johannesburg.
Rudd House
In 1896, Charles Dunell Rudd purchased The Bungalow, a comfortable residence in Belgravia. Although he occupied the house for only a relatively short period before it became the home of his eldest son, Henry Percy Rudd, the property became closely associated with the family and is today known simply as Rudd House. Now managed by the McGregor Museum, the beautifully restored Victorian residence remains one of Kimberley's finest surviving historic homes and offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into the lifestyle of the city's diamond elite.
A Private Man
Despite his immense wealth, Charles Rudd maintained a reputation as a reserved and private individual. He generally avoided public attention, preferring business to politics.
His close association with Cecil Rhodes inevitably drew him into many of the major events that shaped southern Africa during the late nineteenth century.
He eventually returned to Britain, where he spent much of his later life on his Scottish estate.
Charles Dunnell Rudd (back) with his family at Rudd House
Philanthropy and Legacy
Charles Rudd's greatest legacy extended beyond mining. Following the deaths of both his mother and his first wife, Frances Chiappini, from tuberculosis, he became a generous benefactor to medical care. In the early twentieth century he donated a substantial sum—reported to have been £200,000—towards the establishment of Mount Vernon Hospital in Northwood, England.
The hospital became one of Britain's leading centres for the treatment of tuberculosis, offering hope to patients who could not afford the high cost of private sanatoria.
Although historians cannot say with certainty what motivated Rudd's generosity, the personal tragedies he experienced almost certainly influenced his interest in combating the disease. Charles Dunell Rudd died in 1916 from blood poisoning.
Charles Dunell Rudd (1844–1916), pioneering diamond magnate, businessman and co-founder of De Beers Mining Company. Courtesy of the Wellcome Collection.
Today, he is remembered as one of the principal architects of Kimberley's diamond industry, a founding force behind De Beers, and a businessman whose influence extended far beyond the Diamond Fields. While his partnership with Cecil Rhodes often places him in the latter's shadow, Rudd's own contribution to Kimberley and southern African history was both substantial and enduring.