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Born in a slum in Whitechapel, London, he joined his brother Harry in Cape Colony in 1873 during the "diamond rush" which accompanied the discovery of diamonds at Kimberley. His brother had gone out in 1871 and had been working as a comedian and conjurer under the name Harry Barnato. Consequently Issacs changed his name to Barney Barnato.
He formed the Barnato Diamond Mining Company and within ten years he had become a millionaire, primarily by buying worked-out diamond mines area and mining the abandoned blue earth heaps.
He competed with Cecil Rhodes in taking over the diamond mining industry in Cape Colony by aggressive buying out of competitors, although in the end Rhodes succeeded in buying him and his brother out for around four million pounds — a collosal sum in the late 1880Events January 1 Construction of the Panama Canal begins February 2 The first electric streetlight is installed in Wabash, Indiana February 13 Thomas Edison becomes the second person to observe the Edison Effect. February 17 Bomb explodes in Winter Palaces. Barnato subsequently became Kimberley's member of parliament in the Cape Parliament from 1889Events January-April January 8 Herman Hollerith receives a patent for his electric tabulating machine January 22 Columbia Phonograph is formed in Washington, DC. February 11 Meiji Constitution of Japan adopted; 1st Diet convenes in 1890 January 30 ? Crown until his death.
He committed suicide by jumping into the oceanOcean covers almost three quarters (71%) of the surface of the Earth. This global, interconnected body of salt water is divided by the continents and larger archipelagos into five oceans as follows: Arctic Ocean Atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean Pacific Ocean S and drowning from a ship taking him to EnglandEngland is the largest, the most populous, and the most densely populated of the four " Home Nations" which make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK). Occupying the south-eastern portion of the island of Great Britain, England in 1897. His body was recovered and buried in WillesdenWillesden is a place in London, England in the London Borough of Brent. The name derives from Willesdune''. Willesden's motto is Laborare set orare''. Nearest places: Harlesden Neasden Kensal Green Cricklewood Restaurants: Mezerama Sushi Say Tube stations cemetery, near London.