Rhodes, Cecil
Pronunciation: /rəʊdz/
Definition of Rhodes, Cecil
- (1853–1902), British-born South African statesman, Prime Minister of Cape Colony 1890-6; full name Cecil John Rhodes. He expanded British territory in southern Africa, annexing Bechuanaland (now Botswana) in 1884 and developing Rhodesia from 1889. By 1890 he had acquired 90 per cent of the world’s production of diamonds.