Mike Furie

Mike Furie (born Michael Fyrie) (5 January 1816 - 16 December 1918) was one of the 1820 settlers from the Huguenot stock who discovered the Pietermaritzburg Valley in Natal (Kwazulu Natal). An early proponent of equal rights he was later convinced otherwise and became a staunch supporter of slavery. He, Barney Barnato and Cecil Rhodes were close acquaintances. Karl Marx is said to have had significant influence over Mike.

In association with Paul Moosegrove, Dave Shudson, Tom Chain, Keith Goalpin and Kingsley Mahunder, Mike formed the first comedy touring company in South Africa. He also was one of the first to bring Biltong to the Western Cape having found a similar process among the Xhosa people of the Eastern Capre for preserving Meat. It is thought he may have been the person who added coriander to the process, although this is not yet proved. (Biltong is a salty cured meat and named after the greek word for bedbugs which the coriander resembles)

Furie also played first-class cricket, appearing as wicket-keeper with Durban Cricket Club from 1848 to 1880.