The German-Jewish brothers Alfred and Otto Beit rank among the most important donors to Imperial College London, and to several other institutions in Britain and overseas. Yet their fortune was made from diamond and gold mining in South Africa, while their active support for British imperialism has raised questions over their eponymous presence in university halls, libraries and fellowships to this day.
This illustrated presentation will trace the involvement of the Beit brothers and other German Jews with British imperialism, asking why academia has largely remained silent on the issue until recent years. It will examine the motivations and the meaning behind their cultural patronage and philanthropic giving, in the postcolonial context and in their own time.
John Hilary is an honorary professor in the School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Nottingham. His most recent book, Magnates and Masterpieces: The German-Jewish Collectors of Edwardian Britain, was published by Yale University Press in November 2025.
