Sir Thomas Cullinan (74), founder of the Premier Mine where the Cullinan diamond was discovered in 1907, dies.

Date: 23 Aug 1936
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Sir Thomas Cullinan was knighted for his discovery of the Premier Mine and his service to industry. He was one of the co-founders and a chairperson of what became the Transvaal Chamber of Industries, a member of the Transvaal Legislative Assembly and the first Union Parliament of 1910. The Cullinan rough was presented to King Edward on his 66th birthday, and the largest pieces would be mounted in the British Crown Jewels. The largest is known as Star of Africa, a pear shaped diamond weighing 530.20 carats. The Star of Africa holds the place of 2nd largest cut diamond in the world and is on display with the other Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.

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01Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau.
02famousdiamonds, 'The Cullinan',[online], Available at www.famousdiamonds.tripod.com[Accessed: 16 August 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Sir Thomas Cullinan (74), founder of the Premier Mine where the Cullinan diamond was discovered in 1907, dies.. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011565

South African History Online (2011) 'Sir Thomas Cullinan (74), founder of the Premier Mine where the Cullinan diamond was discovered in 1907, dies.', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011565 (Accessed: 21 September 2026).

South African History Online, Sir Thomas Cullinan (74), founder of the Premier Mine where the Cullinan diamond was discovered in 1907, dies. [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011565, (accessed 21 September 2026).

"Sir Thomas Cullinan (74), founder of the Premier Mine where the Cullinan diamond was discovered in 1907, dies.." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011565. Accessed 21 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "Sir Thomas Cullinan (74), founder of the Premier Mine where the Cullinan diamond was discovered in 1907, dies.." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011565.