Person    | Male  Born 1863  Died 14/3/1898

Woolf Joel

Categories: Industry

Countries: South Africa

Woolf Joel

Born Spitalfields. South African mining magnate and businessman.

The web provides the following anecdote:
Early in 1898, just before leaving for South Africa, Woolf gave a dinner party at the Savoy Hotel. One guest had to cancel at the last minute and, sneering at superstitions, Woolf went ahead with a table of thirteen. A few weeks later he was shot dead in his office in Johannesburg. Since then, whenever the situation requires it, the Savoy provides a fourteenth diner, initially this was a member of staff but now it takes the form of Kaspar, a 3ft high wooden cat.

Find a Grave says that Joel was shot by a blackmailer. Elsewhere we read it was because he refused to assist in the kidnapping of President Paul Kruger.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Woolf Joel

Commemorated ati

Middlesex Hospital and Barnato and Joel

We had not heard of the Barnato-Joel family before coming across this plaque....

Read More

Other Subjects

Alfred Mond, Baron Melchett

Alfred Mond, Baron Melchett

Born in Lancashire, where his father Ludwig had a factory.  Studied law and then entered his father's business as director.  Liberal and then Conservative MP 1906-28. In 1926 he achieved the merger...

Person, Industry, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Grunwick workers strike

Grunwick workers strike

Grunwick was a photographic film processing firm. 90% of its employees were either of Asian or Afro-Caribbean origin and working conditions were oppressive. Following the sacking of an employee for...

Event, Industry, Politics & Administration, Race Issues

1 memorial
Henry Stephens

Henry Stephens

Doctor and Inventor. Born Finchley. He invented an indelible blue-black ink. Not to be confused with his son Henry Charles 'Inky' Stephens.

Person, Industry, Medicine

1 memorial