David Montagu, 4th Baron Swaythling

The Lord Swaythling
Born 6 August 1928
Westminster
Died 1 July 1998
London
Cause of death Leukaemia
Nationality British
Education Eton College, Trinity College, Cambridge
Known for Banker and businessman
Title Baron Swaythling
Predecessor Stuart Montagu, 3rd Baron Swaythling
Successor Charles Montagu, 5th Baron Swaythling
Religion Jewish
Spouse Christiane Françoise Dreyfus
Children Fiona Yvonne Montagu, Charles Edgar Samuel Montagu, Nicole Mary Montagu.
Parents Stuart Montagu, 3rd Baron Swaythling OBE and Mary Violet Levy

David Charles Samuel Montagu, 4th Baron Swaythling (6 August 1928, Westminster[1]-1 July 1998[1], London of leukaemia[2]) was a British peer who held prominent positions in a number of notable British companies. A photograph of him was commissioned by Godfrey Argent for the National Portrait Gallery in 1969.[3]

Contents

Family life

David was the son of Stuart Montagu, 3rd Baron Swaythling OBE and Mary Violet Levy.[1] His parents divorced in 1942,[4] and David lived with his mother and her second husband.[5] David married Christiane Françoise Dreyfus on 14 December 1951, and they had three children: Fiona Yvonne Montagu, Charles Edgar Samuel Montagu and Nicole Mary Montagu.[1]

Career

David Montagu held prominent positions in several notable companies. He was chairman and chief executive of Orion Bank from 1974 to 1979,[2] director of J. Rothschild Holdings from 1983 to 1989,[2] and chairman of Rothmans International plc from 1988 until his death.[2] In 1990 he became a member of the Board of Banking Supervision of the Bank of England, a position which he held until 1996.[2] He was also a director of London Weekend Television for 21 years and a director of The Daily Telegraph between 1985 and 1996.[2] He also became chairman of his family's banking firm, Samuel Montagu & Co., by the time he was 41 years old, in 1970, having become a director of the firm in 1954.[5] In 1973, the firm was bought out by the Midland Bank, and David declined the post of non-executive chairman that he had been offered.[5]

As a peer, he took his seat in the House of Lords, with his chief interests being matters relating to dairy farming and road safety. Regarding the latter, he piloted the bill which made rear lights obligatory on bicycles.[5]

Other interests

David was recorded as having several other interests, including involvement with a number of charities (often within the Jewish community).[2] He was also a founder member of the British Horse Racing Board and supported the Royal National Theatre.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Hall, Margaret and David. "Family History of Margaret Macculloch and David Hall c1150-2006". http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~macculloch/p141.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-24. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Courtney, Cathy (1998-07-13). "Obituary: Lord Swaythling". The Independent (London). http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19980713/ai_n14177979. Retrieved 2007-10-24. 
  3. ^ "National Photographic Record (NPR): List of subjects commissioned - 1969". National Portrait Gallery. http://www.npg.org.uk/live/photnpr1969.asp. Retrieved 2007-10-24. 
  4. ^ Hall, Margaret and David. "Family History of Margaret Macculloch and David Hall c1150-2006". pp. 120. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~macculloch/p120.htm#i6421. Retrieved 2007-10-24. 
  5. ^ a b c d "Obituary: Lord Swaythling". The Daily Telegraph. 1998-07-04. http://manfamily.org/Lord_Swaythling_Obituary.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-24. 
Peerage of England
Preceded by
Stuart Albert Montagu		 Baron Swaythling
1990–1998		 Succeeded by
Charles Edgar Samuel Montagu