The Nitrate King

Abstract

John Thomas North’s return to Britain in May 1882 would have gone largely unnoticedinitially. He carried with him the title deeds to several oficinas, including the Peruana, Jazpampa, Ramírez, Primitiva, Virginia, and Buen Retiro plants,² and he now turned his attention to introducing himself and promoting his acquisitions. His aim was to form joint stock companies to exploit these nitrates holdings.

I’m wealthy now—I’ve married tons of coin,

My wife’s the Silver Queen, and all her mines are mine.

You know me not’? My wealth away I fling,

East, West, and South. I’m North the Nitrate King.¹

—Cinderella’s father to his creditors in the pantomime “Cinderella,” December 1889