Cecil John Rhodes (1853-1902) was a British entrepreneur who developed southern Africa's natural resources and founded of the state of Rhodesia which he named after himself After returning to England, Rhodes studied at Oxford. In 1890 he became Prime Minister of the Cape Colony. He also became managing director of the South Africa Company which administered a territory roughly equivalent to present-day Zimbabwe. He continued to be involved in the politics of southern Africa, particularly during the Boer War. The Rhodes Scholarships which enable foreign nationals to study at Oxford, came into being through his will.