Department of History

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Browsing Department of History by browse.metadata.advisor "Chetty, Suryakanthie"

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    A man for all reasons : an economic and political biography of Sir Abe Bailey, 1864-1940
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03) Steinke, Katherine; Chetty, Suryakanthie; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Sir Abe Bailey, 1864-1940, was a South African business magnate and statesman, who left a lasting legacy on the economic and political scenes of his homeland. Born into a middle-class, immigrant family in the Cape Colony, Bailey navigated the complex landscape of colonial-era South Africa, emerging as one of the period's most salient and idiosyncratic figures. Drawing on various historical documents and primary sources, this study details the development of Bailey's rise in the economic sphere, exploring the strategies, technologies, and historical events that enabled him to amass a vast fortune, during the rise of Johannesburg and the gold mining industry. Delving into Bailey's multi-faceted life, this thesis seeks to understand his political legacy. It examines both his successes and setbacks in South Africa's political arena, as well as his motivations, aspirations, and ultimate impact on the nation's political past. The interplay of these two themes of economics and politics provides insight into the dynamics of wealth and power in the late 19th, and early to mid-20th centuries. This biography analyses both the positive and adverse features of Bailey’s character and actions and draws a more comprehensive picture than has been available from previous studies. “A Man For All Reasons: A Biographical Analysis of Abe Bailey,” offers a detailed analysis of Bailey’s life and impact, and his relationship with South Africa’s tumultuous past.