Anthony Gustav de Rothschild
Anthony de Rothschild | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 June 1887 London, England |
| Died | 5 February 1961 (aged 73) |
| Occupation | Banker |
| Known for | Managing partner of N M Rothschild & Sons; philanthropy; horse breeding |
Anthony Gustav de Rothschild (26 June 1887 – 5 February 1961) was a prominent British banker and a distinguished member of the Rothschild family.
Biography
Born in London, he was the youngest child of Leopold de Rothschild and Marie Perugia. He received his education at Harrow School followed by the University of Cambridge, where he achieved a Double First degree in history.
During World War I, both Anthony and his brother Evelyn served in the British Army. Anthony sustained injuries at the Battle of Gallipoli, whereas Evelyn succumbed to wounds sustained during the 1917 Battle of Mughar Ridge. In 1920, Anthony dedicated a War Memorial in Buckinghamshire to honor his brother and their fallen comrades.
Following the death of Leopold in 1917, Anthony assumed the role of managing partner at the family's London banking firm, N M Rothschild & Sons, and inherited Ascott House located in Buckinghamshire. Under his stewardship, the bank expanded its global reach; notably, in 1953 it spearheaded a syndicate that created the British Newfoundland Development Corporation, aimed at exploiting mineral deposits and developing the Churchill Falls hydro-electric project in Labrador, Canada.
Anthony stepped down as head of N M Rothschild & Sons in 1961, passing leadership to his son, Evelyn de Rothschild, who later became chairman in 1976. He played a key role in safeguarding family archives and established enduring honors such as the Anthony de Rothschild Prize in Surgery. His son subsequently gifted the Anthony de Rothschild Building to the University of Buckingham, which accommodates its Business School and Economics Department. Additionally, the Anthony de Rothschild Lecture Theatre at Imperial College School of Medicine bears his name.
Philanthropy
In December 1938, Rothschild was appointed chairman of the Emigration (Planning) Committee, a subcommittee under the Council for German Jewry, founded in 1936 to facilitate emigration for German Jews. During World War II, he assisted in providing refuge for Edvard Beneš at The Abbey, located in Aston Abbotts. After the 1941 bombing by the Luftwaffe damaged the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, Anthony de Rothschild arranged for elderly residents to be relocated to Ascott for the remainder of the war.
In 1949, he generously donated Ascott House along with its art collections and surrounding acreage to the National Trust, including an endowment to ensure its upkeep.
Personal life
In 1926, Anthony de Rothschild wed French countess Yvonne Lydia Louise Cahen d'Anvers (1899–1977), belonging to the Bischoffsheim family. The couple had three children: Renée Louise Marie (1927–2015), Anne Sonja (1930–1971), and Evelyn Robert Adrian (1931–2022).
He had a passion for luxury exotic automobiles, owning models such as a 1934 Hispano-Suiza K6 and J12. These cars are currently part of a collection in the United States and were exhibited at the 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
Continuing family tradition, Rothschild operated the Southcourt Stud horse breeding farm at Ascott House. His notable racing successes included winning the 1919 Grand Prix de Paris with Galloper Light and securing victory in the 1926 1,000 Guineas Stakes with Pillion. He also bred Midstream, who won the Criterion Stakes and was recognized as Leading sire in Australia during 1948, 1951, and 1952.
Anthony de Rothschild inherited and further developed the art collection housed at Ascott House, acquiring English furniture, books, paintings, and more than 400 pieces of Chinese ceramics. In tribute to his mother in 1937, he donated Anthony van Dyck's Abbé Scaglia adoring the Virgin and Child to the National Gallery. His collection also featured J. M. W. Turner's 1839 work Cicero at his Villa.
References
- For a comprehensive list of sources, refer to: Rothschild banking family of England