Bernard Oppenheimer, Date of Birth, Date of Death
TweetBernard Oppenheimer
South African businessman
Date of Birth: 13-Feb-1866
Date of Death: 13-Jun-1921
Profession: businessperson
Nationality: South Africa
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius 
About Bernard Oppenheimer
- Sir Bernard Oppenheimer, 1st Baronet (13 February 1866 – 13 June 1921) was a South African-British diamond merchant and philanthropist. Oppenheimer was chairman of Pniel's Ltd, the New Vaal River Diamond & Exploration Company, and Blaauwbosch Diamonds Ltd, and managing director of Lewis & Marks Ltd of Holborn.
- His brother, Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, was also heavily involved in the diamond industry. In July 1917, Oppenheimer established a scheme for training disabled soldiers in diamond cutting at Brighton, England.
- The Bernard Oppenheimer Diamond Works (National Diamond Factories Ltd) opened on Lewes Road/Coombe Road (north side) on 17 May 1918.
- It was mainly paid for by Oppenheimer himself and by Lewis & Marks.
- In 1920 it also opened branches in Cambridge, Wrexham and Fort William.
- By 1921 the works, including a second building on the opposite side of Coombe Road, employed about 2,000 men who were referred to it by the Ministry of Labour.
- New men received six months training, during which they were paid a maintenance allowance by the government, and were then virtually guaranteed employment at a good wage.
- The factory had a well-equipped clinic to provide ongoing care for the employees, many of whom were amputees or otherwise severely disabled.
- The business did not do well and closed in 1923, but reopened later the same year.
- It finally went into receivership in 1924. For his work with the disabled, Oppenheimer was created a baronet in the 1921 New Year Honours.
- He married Lena Straus, with whom he had six children.
- He died suddenly six months later at the age of 55.
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