Leopold de Rothschild

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Leopold de Rothschild CVO (November 22, 1845 – May 29, 1917) was a British banker, thoroughbred race horse breeder, and a member of the prominent Rothschild banking family of England.

Leopold de Rothschild, by Leslie Ward, 1884.
Leopold de Rothschild, by Leslie Ward, 1884.

Known all his life as Leo, he was the third son and youngest of the five children of Lionel de Rothschild (1808-1879) and Charlotte von Rothschild (1819-1884). He was educated at Kings College School, Wimbledon then after recovery went on to Trinity College, Cambridge and entered N M Rothschild & Sons in London, the family's banking business.

On the passing of his uncle Baron Mayer de Rothschild in 1874, Leopold inherited Ascott House in Ascott, Buckinghamshire. He later purchased Gunnersbury Park, an estate that at one time had been the residence of Princess Amelia, daughter of George II. The mansion today houses the Gunnersbury Park Museum.

In 1881, Leopold de Rothschild married Marie Perugia (1862-1937). She was the daughter of the Trieste merchant Achille Perugia. Her sister Louise married Arthur Sassoon. A close friend, H.R.H. Edward, Prince of Wales attended the wedding at London's Central Synagogue. The marriage produced three sons:

Sons Evelyn and Anthony served with the Buckinghamshire Yeomanry during World War I. Evelyn was killed in action.

An art collector, Leopold de Rothschild owned a number of important paintings by artists such as Jan Davidszoon de Heem. Rothschild was also active in the Anglo-Jewish community, serving as vice-president of the Anglo-Jewish Association, chairman of the Jewish Emigration Society, and a treasurer of the London Jewish Board of Deputies. An avid sportsman, Rothschild established Southcourt Stud in Southcote, Bedfordshire. He assembled a stable of some of the best thoroughbreds in Europe, his horses winning a number of prestigious races including the Epsom Derby, St. Leger Stakes and the 2,000 Guineas.

Leopold de Rothschild was made a commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1905. On his passing in 1917, he was interred in the family plot in the Willesden Jewish Cemetery in the North London suburb of Willesden.

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