Social Victorians/People/Beit

Also Known As

• Family name: Beit

Acquaintances, Friends and Enemies

Friends

• Cecil Rhodes
• Joseph Harry Lukach
• James Rochfort Maguire

Organizations

• Corner House Group
• Founded the British South Africa Company, 1888
• Life Governor of De Beers

Timeline

1888, Alfred Beit moved to London.

1895–96, Alfred Beit and Cecil Rhodes found guilty in a House of Commons inquiry into the Jameson Raid, an attempted coup in South Africa.

1897 July 2, Friday, Mr. Alfred Beit attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House.

Costume at the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 Fancy-dress Ball

Alfred Beit in costume as Frederick Henry of Nassau Stadholder, A.D. 1628-1647. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.

Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, 1631

At the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball, Mr. Alfred Beit (at 384) "represented Frederick of Nassau, period 1630, in purple velvet, embroidered baldric, hat and plumes." The Gentlewoman account describes his costume as that of "'Frederick of Nassau,' about 1630), purple velvet, trimmed with black and steel; embroidered baldrick; sash; hat and plumes."

John Thomson's portrait of "Alfred Beit as Frederick Henry of Nassau Stadholder, A.D. 1628-1647" in costume is photogravure #245 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "Mr Alfred Beit as Frederick Henry of Nassau Stadholder A.D. 1628-1647," with a Long S in Nassau.

A Frederick Henry (29 January 1584 – 14 March 1647) was general, Prince of Orange and Stadholder of several counties in the Dutch Republic. He had a son Frederick of Nassau, Lord of Zuylestein (1624–1672) who rose to prominence as well, as governor of William of Orange. Perhaps the dates "A.D. 1628–1647" refer not to his birth and death dates but what 20-year period in Frederick Henry's life the costume recalls. If so, then the Frederick Henry must be the father — who was far more important to history — and not the son.

The portrait (right) of Frederick Henry of Orange-Nassau is not the original for Alfred Beit's costume, but it is one of the very few that show him without full body armor and it is from about the right time. It was painted in 1631 by Gerard van Honthorst and has been in the Royal Collection in the U.K. since the Restoration and in the Queen's Audience Chamber at Windsor since the reign of George III.

Demographics

• Nationality: Anglo-German

Residences

• Tewin Water, Tewin, near Welwyn

Family

• Alfred Beit (15 February 1853 – 16 July 1906)

Relations

• Otto Beit, younger brother