Robert de Rothschild
Robert de Rothschild | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert Philippe Gustave de Rothschild 19 January 1880 Paris, France |
| Died | 25 December 1946 (aged 66) Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Occupation(s) | Financier, philanthropist, polo player |
| Known for | Banking, philanthropy, founding Deauville International Polo Club |
Baron Robert Philippe Gustave de Rothschild (19 January 1880 – 25 December 1946) was a prominent French financier, philanthropist, and accomplished polo athlete.
Early life
Robert entered the world in Paris, France on 19 January 1880 as the youngest among six offspring of the banker Baron Gustave de Rothschild and Cécile Anspach. His brothers and sisters included Zoé Lucie Betty de Rothschild, who wed Belgian financier Léon Lambert, and Aline Caroline de Rothschild, spouse of Sir Edward Sassoon.
Career
As a banker, Robert was deeply involved in supporting Jewish communities both in France and later in New York City. Following the conclusion of World War II, he played a significant role in restoring Jewish cultural life within France.
During the conflict, Robert was placed on the Nazi blacklist, and the Vichy government stripped him of his French nationality due to his Jewish background. He escaped to England before relocating to the United States, where he arrived in New York City in August 1940 and stayed for the duration of the war.
Polo
An accomplished polo player rated at four goals, he established the Deauville International Polo Club in 1907. He was also responsible for organizing the Laversine Open Polo Cup at his estate, Laversine, located in Saint-Maximin, as well as tournaments held in Apremont beginning in 1920. By 1995, the Château de Chantilly in Apremont became home to the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly. His achievements include victories at the International Paris Tournament in 1907 and the Paris Open in 1920.
Personal life
On 6 March 1907, Robert married Gabrielle Nelly Régine Beer. The couple resided at the Château de Laversine and had four children: two sons who were captured by Nazi forces during World War II and two daughters:
- Diane Cécile Alice Juliette de Rothschild (1907–1996), who married Anatol Mühlstein in 1932; following their post-war divorce, she remarried Joseph Benvenuti in 1952.
- James Gustave Jules Alain de Rothschild (1910–1982), wedded Mary Chauvin du Treuil in 1938.
- Cécile Léonie Eugénie Gudule Lucie de Rothschild (1913–1995), known as a companion of actress Greta Garbo.
- Élie Robert de Rothschild (1917–2007), who married Liliane Fould-Springer in 1942.
Robert passed away from pneumonia at age 66 on 25 December 1946 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Descendants
From his daughter Diane came three grandchildren: artist Cécile, historian Anka, and pediatric endocrinologist Nathalie. Through Diane’s daughter Beatrice, Robert was great-grandfather to Marie Brandolini d'Adda and great-great-grandfather to Marcantonio Brandolini d'Adda. Via his son Alain de Rothschild, he was grandfather to Eric de Rothschild and great-grandfather to Saskia de Rothschild.