Yet Another Marks

Abstract

The article describes an amazing history of a phenomenal success in South Africa at the end of the XIX and the beginning of the XX centuries of a Jewish emigrant from the Russian Empire Sammy (Samuel) Marks, rising from a peddler to a multimillionaire, called at the peak of his career the “uncrowned king of Transvaal”. He founded in cooperation with his cousin Isaac Lewis several branches of South African industrial economy and helped peaceful resolution of the Anglo-Boer war of 1899–1902. Among Marks and Lewis business interests were diamonds, gold and coal. Marks and Lewis business projects included distilleries, canning and glass factories, establishing flour-mills and brick works, erecting the country’s first hydroelectric power station. Marks pioneered in using tractors and progressive farm technologies. He was also widely respected for his generous charity activities. Sammy Marks played a significant role in the peaceful resolution of the Anglo-Boer conflict. Being a friend of Transvaal president P.Kruger and trusted by both sides of the hostilities, Marks helped to organize negotiations to end the Anglo-Boer war. Peace negotiations were held and concluded in his estate at Vereneeging in spring 1902. Peace agreements opened the way for modern statehood initially in the form of South African Union. Sammy Marks was nominated senator in the first Union parliament in 1910 and held this position till his death in 1920.