Alfred de Rothschild

Alfred Charles Freiherr de Rothschild
Alfred Charles Freiherr de Rothschild
Born	Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age
Died	January 31, 1918 (aged 75); 1 Seamore Place, Mayfair, London
Occupation(s)	Financier, art enthusiast, diplomat
Years active	1863–1918
Known for	Director of the Bank of England (1868–1889), philanthropy, art collection

Alfred Charles Freiherr de Rothschild, CVO (20 July 1842 – 31 January 1918), was a prominent English financier and art enthusiast who served as a director of the Bank of England between 1868 and 1889. As a member of the distinguished Rothschild lineage, he was the second-born son of Lionel Freiherr de Rothschild and Charlotte Freifrau von Rothschild.

Education

Alfred received his early education at King's College School, Wimbledon, followed by studies at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he pursued Mathematics for two terms. During his time at Cambridge, he developed a lifelong friendship with the Prince of Wales, who later ascended as King Edward VII. He departed from Cambridge without completing a degree.

Banking career

At the age of 21, Alfred commenced his banking career at the London branch of N.M. Rothschild Bank, acquiring expertise under his father's guidance and establishing significant connections across Europe.

By 1868, when he was 26, Alfred was appointed a director at the Bank of England, a position he maintained for two decades until 1889. In 1892, he acted as Britain's delegate at the International Monetary Conference held in Brussels.

His directorship at the Bank of England concluded suddenly following an incident involving an art dealer with an account at the bank who had overcharged him for an eighteenth-century French painting. Alfred’s decision to bring this matter to public attention resulted in his dismissal. Notably, he was the first Jewish individual to hold such a position at the Bank; no other Jewish director served there for more than fifty years after his departure.

After inheriting an estate in Halton in 1879, Alfred commissioned the construction of Halton House, completed in 1883, designed in the style of a French château. He primarily used this residence for hosting social events while maintaining his main home in London. In 1889, he became the inaugural High Sheriff of the County of London.

Alfred also played a role in diplomatic efforts, promoting Anglo-German understanding through informal gatherings at the German Embassy prior to World War I and representing Britain on bimetallism issues in 1892. Before the war, he served as Consul-General for Austria in London.

Honours

Freiherr de Rothschild was honored as a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) by King Edward VII in 1902. His accolades also included France’s Legion of Honour, Prussia’s 1st Class Order of the Crown (Prussia), and Austria-Hungary’s Grand Cross of the Order of Franz Joseph.

Philanthropy

As an avid supporter of the arts, he contributed financially to acquisitions for the National Gallery, London and held trustee positions at both that institution and the Wallace Collection.

Daughter

Alfred de Rothschild is believed to have fathered an illegitimate daughter named Almina with Mrs. Marie ("Mina") Boyer Wombwell. Although her birth certificate lists "Frederick C. Wombwell" as her father, Alfred acted as her guardian, and her name implies his paternity. Some accounts suggest that Alfred’s sexual orientation may have influenced this arrangement.

In 1895, Almina married George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon, thereby becoming Countess of Carnarvon. Alfred provided her with a dowry totaling £500,000 (equivalent to about £ today), which enabled her husband to maintain their family estate at Highclere Castle and settle outstanding debts. Further financial support followed, and Alfred bequeathed a substantial portion of his inheritance to her. Almina’s fortune financed her husband’s archaeological ventures in Egypt, culminating in the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922.

In his later years, Alfred’s health deteriorated; he passed away at age 75 on 31 January 1918 at his residence located at 1 Seamore Place, Mayfair, following a brief illness. His burial took place at Willesden Jewish Cemetery. The value of his estate was estimated at £1,500,000 (approximately £ today).

Bibliography

Davis, Richard. The English Rothschilds. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1983. ISBN 0807815756.
Jordaan, Peter. A Secret Between Gentlemen: Suspects, Strays and Guests. Sydney: Alchemie Books, 2023. ISBN 9780645852745.

External links

Butlers and boardrooms: Alfred de Rothschild as collector and connoisseur