Henry Nourse attended school in Pietermaritzburg but ran away from home at age 14, joining his half-brother working in diamond mines in Kimberly. In 1877 he moved to Pretoria and joined the military. He commanded a cavalry unit in the Sekhukune War and in 1884 again saw active service in Bechuanaland. He started in business working for a bus company but with the discovery of gold Nourse established a working mine at Kambula from which he started the very successful Nourse Mining Company, quickly making a fortune and becoming one of the most influential businessmen in South Africa. He had a passion for horses and at one time was the largest thoroughbred breeder in the world with 750 thoroughbreds. Nourse was co-opted onto the IOC in August 1920, and served until his death in 1942, but attended only 2 of 21 IOC Sessions during his tenure.
South Africa