Cooper family
| Cooper | |
|---|---|
| Current region | Rhodesia |
| Place of origin | XXXX, XXXX, XXXX |
| Members | |
| Connected members | |
The Cooper family is a a wealthy and influential Rhodesian family that has played a significant role in the Rhodesian media, political and social sphere since the beginning of the twentieth century. The family has had numerous interests in Rhodesian businesses, most notably in banking and media, owning Cooper Bank and both The Salisbury Herald since 1920 and The Cecilton Chronicle since 1980, and recently in gambling.
Founded by brothers Harold (1862 – 1934) and Stephen Cooper (XXXX – XXXX). Harold who bought The Salisbury Herald, a money-losing newspaper, and formed the Salisbury Herald Company and his brother Stephen founded Cooper Bank. A majority of the family's wealth derives from these two businesses. As of December 2021, the family has a collective net worth of R$28 billion.
As of December 2020, the Coopers collectively owned 90% of the Salisbury Herald Company and 8.6% of Cooper Bank. The family are the former owners of BusinessDay Media and Horizon Entertainment Inc.
The head of the family, Nathan Cooper, is the sixth richest person in the world.
History
The family's founding patriarch was Henry Cooper (1813–1908), who was a farmer from XXX, XXX, and emigrated to what is now Chestnut Hill, a Salisbury suburb of east of the city. The family can be divided into two branches: the descendants of Harold Cooper, and of Stephen Cooper.
The family fortune originated with the Salisbury Herald Company, founded in 1920 by Harold Cooper, which would later acquire The Cecilton Chronicle to become largest newspaper publisher in Rhodesia, and Cooper Bank, founded in XXXX by Stephen Cooper. They were also the principal investors and majority owners of Wisden plc (since 1989), Horizon Entertainment Inc (which merged with Echelon Entertainment Corporation in 2018), BusinessDay Media (sold to Monreaux LP in 1997).
Cooper University in Salisbury, was named in honor of the family as a result of a very large contribution the family made when the college was transitioning from an all-male military college to a co-educational civilian university in 1990.
The family has assembled one of the most valuable art collections in the country and founded the Art Gallery of Salisbury in Salisbury, donating both art works and funds to operate it. They are also the patron to the University of Rhodesia, Cooper University, Spes Hospitals in Equatorial Sangala and Saint Dominic, and the Sylvia Hempt Academy.
Prominent members
Members
- Harold Eugene Cooper (1862 – 1934) ∞ Eleanor Westphal (1870 – 1958)
- Stanley Joseph Cooper (b. 1912 – 2013) ∞ (1) Jean Byrd (1925 – 1960) ∞ (2) Elizabeth Bliss (b. 1965)
- Frederick Stanley Cooper (b. July 1990)
- William Eugene Cooper (b. July 1990)
- Roy Edward Cooper (1916 – 2010) ∞ Sarah Cooley (1916 – 2010)
- Nathan George Cooper (born 1950) ∞ Maria Karshev (1916 – 2010)
- Aiden James Cooper (born 1980) ∞ Alyse Sheetz (born November 30, 1990)
- Lucas Eugene Cooper (born 1985) ∞ Caitlin Appell (born February 14, 1969)
- Peyton George Cooper (born August 3, 2018)
- Morgan Elaine Cooper (born April 12, 1990)
- Nathan George Cooper (born 1950) ∞ Maria Karshev (1916 – 2010)
- Stanley Joseph Cooper (b. 1912 – 2013) ∞ (1) Jean Byrd (1925 – 1960) ∞ (2) Elizabeth Bliss (b. 1965)
- Stephen George Cooper (1866 – 1951) ∞ Elizabeth Hempt (1921 – 2011)
- Elizabeth Charlotte Cooper (b. 1950)
- Stephen George Cooper Jr. (b. 1952)