Читать книгу The History of Mining - Michael Coulson - Страница 63

Despite the role of Cecil Rhodes, it is Joseph Robinson who first became involved with diamonds when as a trader in the Orange Free State he came across them in the Orange River area in the late 1860s. He began to concentrate his diamond trading and exploration efforts on the Vaal River area and acquired a useful knowledge of alluvial diamond mining as well as a useful income from his exploration successes. With the discovery of what was originally called the New Rush mine and the rise of Kimberley, Robinson settled in the town and became a highly successful diamond buyer.

Robinson was an aloof and austere character who inspired respect as an upright citizen and a prosperous businessman. He had a dangerous temper though, which on occasions showed a different side and one that was not always to his advantage as he sought to build on his respectable image. He was a man who also sought to promote his own views and he used his growing wealth to purchase control of one of the Kimberley newspapers, The Independent. It is not surprising that such a prominent diamond buyer and mine owner made some enemies and his occasional indiscretions gave opponents plenty of opportunities to attack him. But Robinson’s success ensured his reputation was known all over South Africa and his activities were always newsworthy. In due course in 1879 Robinson entered politics and got elected as Mayor of Kimberley.