Marcus Sieff, Baron Sieff of Brimpton

Sir Marcus Joseph Sieff, Baron Sieff of Brimpton OBE (2 July 1913 – 23 February 2001[1]) was a Jewish British businessman and chairman of his family company, the retailler Marks & Spencer, from 1972 to 1982. He was also a leading figure in UK Zionism.[2]

Sieff was born at Didsbury, Manchester, the second son of Israel Sieff.[2] Starting work for the family company in Hammersmith, London in 1935, Sieff first visited Palestine in 1939.

Sieff joined the Royal Artillery in the British Army at the outbreak of World War II, receiving an OBE in 1944 for gallant service.[3] Exiting the British Army with the rank of colonel, he returned to Marks & Spencer, but was asked in 1948 by the first Prime Minister of Israel, David Ben-Gurion, to become an adviser on transportation and supplies to the Israeli Defence ministry. Sieff joined the Israeli Army and helped co-ordinate Marks & Spencer goods and finances to support the newly founded state.[4] Sieff later became chairman of the Export Committee for Israel (1965 to 1968), honorary president of the Joint Israel Appeal, president of the Anglo-Israel chamber of commerce and Chancellor of the Weizmann Institute of Science.[2] In 1974 the UK Foreign Secretary, James Callaghan, asked Sieff to become British Ambassador to Israel, but Sieff declined.[4]

Sieff returned to Britain in 1951 to take over the Marks & Spencer food department, which he expanded from 14% of total sales in 1956 to over 25% in 1968. He was made a director and chairman of in 1974 and served on the board until his death. After stepping down as chairman in 1984, he became honorary life president. In retirement he was a trustee of the National Portrait Gallery and the first chairman of Newspaper Publishing, the publishers of The Independent, from 1986 to 1993.[5]

Married four times, Sieff's fourth wife was Polish widow Lily Moretzki (née Spatz), whom he married in London in 1963. She ran most of his charitable associations and then nursed him during his final years.[6]

Sieff was knighted in 1971[7] and was created a life peer on 14 February 1980 as Baron Sieff of Brimpton, of Brimpton in the Royal County of Berkshire.[8]

Arms

Arms of Marcus Sieff, Baron Sieff of Brimpton
Crest
A Demi-Lion as in the Arms holding a Caduceus Or
Escutcheon
Sable a Lion rampant Argent crowned with an Eastern Crown and holding between the forepaws two Triangles interlaced and eradiated Or on a Chief Argent a Lyre Azure between two Pairs of Paintbrushes in saltire proper
Supporters
Dexter: a Lion holding aloft two interlaced Triangles Or depressing a Cornucopia replenished proper and gorged with a Plain Collar Sable tied about with a Fishing Line knotted in front pendant therefrom a Grey Wulf Trout Fly proper; Sinister: an Owl proper gorged with a like Collar tied about with a fishing line knotted in front pendant therefrom a Red Wulf Trout Fly proper
Motto
SENZA SAPIENZA NIENTE CAPIRE (Without knowledge there is no understanding)

References

  1. ↑ Barker, Dennis (26 February 2001). "Guardian Obituary: Lord Sieff of Brimpton". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 15 February 2008.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sieff, Marcus Joseph farlex
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36436. p. 1362. 23 March 1944.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Body
  5. ↑ Sieff, Marcus Joseph - Hutchinson encyclopedia article about Sieff, Marcus Joseph
  6. ↑ "Obituary: Lady Sieff of Brimpton". Independent, The (London). 6 March 1997.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 45325. p. 2509. 19 March 1971.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 48103. p. 2655. 19 February 1980.