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SIR BASIL ZAHAROFF.

DEATH AT MONTE CARLO. “MYSTERY MAN OF EUROPE.” Received November 28, 9.50 a.m. MONTE CARLO, Nov. 27. The death has occurred suddenly of Sir Basil Zaharoff, the famous armament figure. REMARKABLE HISTORY. Basil Zaharoff, “the mystery man of Europe,” who was a Greek, was born at Odessa, South Russia, in 1850. The story goes that his connection with the great armament firm of Vickers began through his being recommended to its head in Athens in 1877 as an interpreter. At that time he already knew ten languages. On the return journey to England, Vickers, impressed by the ability of the young man, offered him a post as traveller for the firm, in whose service Zaharoff rose rapidly. While on a visit to Marseilles lie made the acquaintance of the Duqusso de Marchena. With the aid of the duchess Zaharoff is said to have quickly secured Spanish orders for Vickers to the tune of 30,000,000 pesetas with the result that he was invited to join the board. In September, he married the duchess, who died in February, 1920. Zaharoff was the greatest traveller for war material in the world, and Lord Beaverbrook once said of him : “The fate of nations is liis sport and the plans of Governments his secret.” He gave valuable aid to the Allies during the war, founding chairs of aviation at Paris and Petrograd, and presenting £25,000 to the British Government for a similar purpose. Later he endowed the Field Marshal Haig chair of English literature ill Paris, and the Marshal Eoch chair of French literature at Oxford. His gifts were recognised by the bestowal of the G.B.E. in 1918 and the G.C.B. in 1919, and he received the Grand Cordon of the Legion of Honour. Some years ago he became a naturalised Frenchman, and a director of the Bank of F’rance. He was also one of the chief shareholders of the Vickers and Schneider-Cresot concerns, and held large interests in banks, and oil concerns. In April, 1926, lie made a donation of a million francs to the voluntary fund raised “to save the franc” during the slump. Zaharoff was enormously wealthy, and in the closing years"bf liis life had lived under close guard in Monte Carlo.

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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19361128.2.111

Bibliographic details

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 310, 28 November 1936, Page 10

Word Count
373

SIR BASIL ZAHAROFF. Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 310, 28 November 1936, Page 10

SIR BASIL ZAHAROFF. Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 310, 28 November 1936, Page 10