Use of nickel (as a natural meteoric nickelâiron alloy) has been traced as far back as 3500 BCE. Nickel was first isolated and classified as a chemical element in 1751 by Axel Fredrik Cronstedt, who initially mistook the ore for a copper mineral.
One of the most powerful bankers of his era, J.P. (John Pierpont) Morgan (1837-1913) financed railroads and helped organize U.S. Steel, General Electric and other major corporations.
Anglo American PLC was founded in 1917 by Sir Ernest Oppenheimer in collaboration with J.P. Morgan & Co. After Sir Ernest passed away in 1957, he was succeeded by his son, Harry Oppenheimer. Harry also took the role of Chairman of De Beers Company and retired in 1982, after which Gavin Relly took his place.