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The Rhodes Trust is the creation of Cecil John Rhodes, the British diamond magnate and imperialist. He was born in Hertfordshire in 1853 and migrated to South Africa for health reasons in 1870. He obtained a large interest in the newly worked Kimberly diamond mines, and by 1888 amalgamated them all into the De Beers Consolidated Mines of which he became chairman. From 1880 to the end of his life he was a member of the legislature of the colony of the Cape of Good Hope, and was the colony's Prime Minister from 1890 to 1896. Much of his energy was devoted to extending British influence northward in Africa, and he obtained a royal charter for a British South Africa Company to administer the territory which was eventually named after him, Rhodesia. He was forced to resign as Prime Minister after secretly encouraging insurrection in the neighbouring Boer state of the Transvaal. In consolidating his control of the future Rhodesia he twice engaged in war in Matabeleland, but personally negotiated a lasting peace with the Ndebele chiefs in 1896. On the outbreak of the South African war in 1899 he moved to Kimberley and was besieged there. He died at Muizenburg on 26 March 1902 and was buried near Bulawayo in the Matopo Hills.

Rhodes' life is part of the history of Southern Africa. His colony of Rhodesia is today the independent state of Zimbabwe, and his name is now remembered principally because of his foundation of the Rhodes Scholarships. In his will he left the greater part of his substantial fortune to establish this scheme. Candidates for Rhodes Scholarships, unlike candidates for other scholarships, were to be selected on the basis of qualities of character as well as of intellect. Rhodes' aim was to provide future leaders of the English-speaking world with an education which would broaden their views and develop their abilities. He chose to endow these scholarships at Oxford University rather than elsewhere in the United Kingdom because he believed that its residential colleges provided an enviroment specially conductive to personal development. Oxford was also the university he had himself attended, as an undergraduate of Oriel College, for short periods over a number of years before taking his degree in 1881, while building his business and political career in Southern Africa. Rhodes hoped that those who gained these benefits from Oxford and his scholarships would go on to improve the lot of mankind, and work towards maintaining peace between nations.

Rhodes described the qualities he sought in his scholars in the following terms:

The scheme was unprecedented is scale as well as vision. Rhodes' original will provided for 52 scholarships each year. 20 scholarships were for countries then forming part of the British Empire: two for Canada (one each for Ontario and Quebec), six for Australia (one for each colony or state), five for South Africa (one each for Natal and for four named schools in the Cape), three for Rhodesia, and one each for New Zealand, Newfoundland, Bermuda and Jamaica. 32 scholarships were for the United States: two every three years for each of the then States of the Union. In a codicil to his will, addes on the receipt of the news that the German Schools, Rhodes added five annual German scholarships. 'The object' he said 'is that an understanding between the three great powers will render war impossible and educational relations make the strongest tie'.

The administration of the scholarships was vested in a board of Trustees nominated in the Will. The first Trustee included the Earl of Rosebery, Earl Grey, Lord Milner and Sir Leander Starr Jameson. Later Trustees included Rudyard Kipling, Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, the first Viscount Hailsham, and Sir Kenneth Where. When Rhodes' estate was settled up in 1907 it was valued at £3,345,000. By 1924, owing to various charges, including death duties, it was estimated to be worth £2,276,000, its lowest valuation. At that point the investment portfolio was placed in the hands of Baring Brothers, who have administered the scholarship funds, under the direction of the Trustees, ever since. At the end of the financial year 1995-1996 the Trust's assets were valued at £ 145,638,000. The present Trustees are Lord Ashburton, Lord Armstrong of Ilminster, Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover, Sir Richard Southwood, the Rt. Hon. William Waldegrave, Dr Colin Lucas, and Professor Robert O'Neill.

While the 52 scholarships in the original will are still offered annually, a number of changes and additions have been made to the scheme over the years, so that for 1996 the number of scholarships offered throughout the world was 87. The German scholarships were abolished in 1916 by an Act of Parliament; they were partially reinstated from 1929-1938 and again in 1970. An Act of Parliament of 1929 set up a new fund, to be financed from the surplus of the original scholarship fund, and gave the Trustees power to improve and extend the scholarship system. At various times the trustees have increased the number of scholarships from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and have added scholarships from India, Pakistan, Singapore, Malaysia, Kenya, Uganda, and Hong Kong. In 1993-5 the Trustees introduced, for an experimental period, new scholarships for citizens of European Community countries other that Germany and the U.K. The number of scholarships offered in the U.S. has remained constant at 32, but since1929 the final selection has been made not in the individual states, but by eight regional committiees which each make a choice between candidates preselected by half-a dozen states.

The present annual distribution of scholarships is as follows:

The Candidates are selected by nearly one hundred local selection committees in the Rhodes constituencies thoughout the world. In each country the Trustees appoint a national secretary, who reports to the Trust through its international Secretary in Oxford. It is his task to ensure that places are found in Oxford colleges and departments for the candidates who have been successful in the national competitions.

The qualifications required for candidates remain, in general, as in the Will. A typical current memorandum for candidates reads as follows:

Until 1977 no women were elected to Rhodes scholarships, because the will as interpreted by the Rhodes Trust Acts of Parliament confined the awards to 'male students', when the U.K. government introduced legislation to outlaw sex discrimination a clause in the bill permitted single-sex educational institutions and charities to continue to discriminate in favor of one sex. Following lobbying by the Rhodes Trustees, a further clause was inserted into the eventual Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 allowing single-sex education charities to seek leave to open their awards to both sexes. Under this clause the Secretary of State for Education made an order in 1976 declaring Rhodes Scholarships to be tenable by women, and nullifying the effect of the words 'manly' and 'manhood' in the will.

The early Rhodes Scholars received £300 a year, having reached Oxford without the Trust's financial assistance. From this stipend they paid their fees and living expenses. Today's Rhodes Scholars have their fares and baggage costs paid in each direction, and have their College and University fees paid directly by the Trust, as well as receiving supplementary grants for research equipment and travel if required. They receive an annual maintenance grant (in 1996-7) of £6900.

Scholarships were originally awarded for three years, which was then the minimum time for obtaining an Oxford degree. Scholarships at the present time are awarded for two years, a period which suffices in most cases for a Rhodes scholar to obtain a further B.A, or to follow a taught Master's course. With the permission of the Trustees the scholarship may be extended for a third year. In any given year there are likely to be upwards of two hundred scholars in residence; about two thirds nowadays aim at graduate degrees, and about one third read for the Oxford Final Honour Schools.

Altogether some 5900 Rhodes scholarships have been awarded, and about 3900 of the scholars are still alive. Among scholars who later achieved fame or distinction may be mentioned: Count Bernstorff (Germany & Trinity, 1909), diplomatist, executed for conspiracy against Hitler, 1945; J.H. Hofmeyr ( South African College School and Balliol, 1910), South African educationalist and liberal politician; Edwin Hubble (Illinois and Queen's 1910), astronomer; John Crowe Ranson (Tennessee and Christ Church, 1910), poet; Brand Blanshard (Michigan and Merton, 1913), philosopher; Norman Manley ( Jamaica & Jesus, 1914), Chief Minister of Jamaica; Wilder Penfield (New Jersey & Merton, 1914), neurosurgeon; Roland Michener (Alberta & Hertford, 1919), Governor General of Canada; Sir Keith Hankock (Australia & Magdalen, 1921), Nobel prize winner in physiology; J.W. Fulbright (Arkansas & Pembroke, 1925), U.S. senator and sponsor of Act creating Fulbright Scholarships; Robert Penn Warren ( Kentuky & New College, 1928), poet and critic; E.F. Schumacher ( Germany & New College, 1928), economist; Carl Albert (Oklahoma & St. Peter's, 1931), speaker of U.S. House of Representatives; Dean Rusk ( North Caolina & St. John's, 1931), U.S. Secretary of State; Adam Von Trott zu Solz ( Germany & Balliol, 1931), executed for consiracy against Hilter, 1944; Daniel Boorstin (Oklahoma & Balliol, 1934), Librarian of Congress; Max Gluckman (Transvaal & Exeter, 1934), anthropologist; Sir John Templeton (Connecticut & Balliol, 1934), Businessman and Founder of Templeton College, Oxford; Sir Arnold Cantwell Smith (Ontario & Christ Church, 1935), first Secretary General of the Commonwealth; Dan Davin (New Zealand & Balliol, 1936), special Assistant to the U.S. President; Byron White (Colorado & Hertford, 1938), U.S. Supreme Court judge; Don Mintoff (Malta & Hertford, 1939), Prime Minister of Malta; Sir Zelman Cowen (Victoria & New College, 1941), Governor General of Australia; Nicolas Katzenbach (New Jersey & Balliol, 1947), U.S. Attorney General; Bernard Rogers (Kansas & University College, 1947), NATO Supreme commander, Stansfield Turner (Illinois & Exeter, 1947), Director of CIA; R.W. Burchfield (New Zealand & Magdalen, 1949), Editor of Oxford English Dictionary; James Billington (New Jersey & Balliol, 1950), Librarian of Congress; James Gobbo (Victoria & Magdalen, 1952), Australian Supreme Court Judge; Edward de Bono (Malta & Christ Church, 1953), doctor and writer; Bob Hawke (W. Australia & University College, 1953), Prime Minister of Australia; Julian Ogilvie Thompson (Diocean College & Worcester, 1953), businessman; Richard Lugar (Indian & Pembroke, 1954), U.S. Senator; Lourens Ackermann ( Cape Province & Worcester, 1954), Judge of the South African Constitutional Court; Leonard Hoffmann (South African College School & Queen's, 1954), Lord Justice of Appeal; Paul Sarbanes (Maryland & Balliol, 1954), U.S. Senator; Johan Steyn (Cape Province & University, 1955), Lord Justice of Appeal; Neil Rudenstine (Connecticut & New College, 1956), President of Harvard; Manmohan Malhoutra (India & Balliol, 1958), Assistant Secretary-General of Ohio; David Souter (New Hampshire & Magdalen, 1961), U.S. Supreme Court judge; Bryan Gould (New Zealand & Balliol, 1963), U.S. Senator; Wasim Sajjad (Pakistan & Wadham, 1964), Chairman of Senate, Pakistan; William Bradley (Missouri & Worcester, 1965), U.S. Senator; William Clinton (Arkansas & University College, 1968), President of the United States.

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