George Thomas (entrepreneur)

George Thomas was an African-American who found success in the Russian Empire during the reign of Nicholas II.

Thomas moved to St. Petersburg in 1890 to become a valet. The tsars had long hired black servants, and Afro-Russians could become extremely successful (see, for example Abram Petrovich Gannibal or Ira Aldridge). Thomas became an extremely rich and successful nightclub owner, theatrical producer, and more; he owned and ran the Aquarium, which boasted a theater, an amphitheater, back rooms, and so on.[1] As examples of his place in society, Thomas hosted men like Jimmy Winkfield,[2] had connections with the Tsar, and once introduced Jack Johnson to Rasputin.[3] Thomas adopted the Russian name of Fyodor.[4]

Thomas fled to Constantinople during the Russian Revolution but was never as rich and famous as he once had been.^[citation needed]

References

1. Joe Drape. Black maestro: the epic life of an American legend. Harper Collins, New York: 2006. Page 145.
2. Drape 146.
3. Finis Farr. "Jack And The Game." Sports Illustrated. June 22, 1959.
4. "Black Immigrants/ Black Visitors to Russia"