Cecil John Rhodes PC, DCL (5 July 1853 – 26 March 1902) is an English-born South African businessman, mining magnate, and politician.

He is the founder of the diamond company De Beers, which today markets 40% of the world's rough diamonds and at one time marketed 90%.

An ardent believer in British colonialism, he is the founder of the state of Rhodesia, which is named after him.

In 1964, Northern Rhodesia becomes the independent state of Zambia and Southern Rhodesia is thereafter known simply as Rhodesia.

In 1980, Rhodesia, which had been de facto independent since 1965, becomes independent from Britain and is renamed Zimbabwe.

South Africa's Rhodes University is also named after Rhodes.

He sets up the provisions of the Rhodes Scholarship, which is funded by his estate.