Rhodesian

My youngest dog, Tiberius
Originally uploaded by Kolleggerium.

My youngest dog Tiberius is part Rhodesian Ridgeback, a breed originally domesticated in South Africa by the Hottentot tribes. The breed is one of many things bearing the name of British colonial financier Cecil Rhodes, most commonly recognized in association with the scholarship that gets you to Oxford. He also got a country named after him, later split into Northern and Southern Rhodesia (now Zambia and Zimbabwe).

Cecil made lots and lots of money in Africa, having founded the DeBeers mining company (y'know, DeBastards at DeBeers). His personal aspiration was to conquer Africa for Britain, since the British, "are the finest race in the world and that the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race." Anybody want a diamond?

I'll be content to get a martini named after me -- "Yes, I'll have a Kolleggerian please."