Ben Goldsmith
Encyclopedia
Benjamin James Goldsmith (born 28 October 1980, in London
) is an English
financier and environmentalist
.
businesses for his uncle Edward Goldsmith
and others to invest in. He focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency technologies, alternatives to chemicals, and clean industrial processes.
Goldsmith's investment portfolio is manifold and includes a lucrative sports betting company, Fitzdares. He sometimes works with his brothers Zac Goldsmith
and Robin Birley
. They also backed the unsuccessful magazine 'The Sportsman'. In August 2006, the Goldsmith brothers made a bid for the Clermont Club, the casino above Annabel's
, the nightclub named for their mother, but they were thwarted by Malaysian billionaire Quek Leng Chan
. Goldsmith is a shareholder of Luxury Publishing Ltd, the publisher of Annabel's Diamond and Fashion the nightclub's house magazine.
In 2004, he gave £20,000.00 to the UK Green Party
. In recent years he has contributed generously to the UK Conservative Party
as well as individual candidates like Tory
MP Michael Gove
and the so-called "Notting Hill
set of Conservative modernisers".
.
Once considered to be anti-bloodsports, he has since spoken out against the ban on fox hunting in the UK, stating that the "ban on fox hunting has nothing to do with animal welfare. If it was, then antis would be campaigning as heavily against factory farming...It's another step in the dismantling of tradition."
, and an older brother, Zac Goldsmith
. His father famously conducted concurrent liaisons with his second wife, Ben's mother and his mistresses, including Ben's first cousin Lady Cosima Somerset
, legally the younger daughter of Annabel's brother, the 9th Marquess of Londonderry. In 1981, his father left Ben's family in England and went to live in New York with his mistress.
Goldsmith has several half-siblings: Isabel Goldsmith from his father's first marriage, Alix and Manes from his father's second marriage and by his father's mistress Laure Boulay de La Meurthe, he has two younger half-siblings, Jethro and Charlotte. From his mother's first marriage to nightclub magnate Mark Birley
he has two brothers Rupert (now deceased) and Robin Birley
and a sister India Jane Birley
.
Goldsmith was raised in Surrey
at Ormeley Lodge
and in France
. When his father died of pancreatic cancer in 1997, he inherited an estimated £300 million fortune.
, he married heiress Kate Emma Rothschild (b. 1982), daughter of the late Amschel Rothschild
and his wife Anita Guinness of the Guinness Brewery
family. Their wedding was attended by 600 guests, thickly layered with blue-blooded and Old Etonian friends, among them Lord Frederick Windsor
and Alexander Spencer-Churchill. The couple have three children: Iris Annabel (b. 2004), Frank James Amschel (b. 2005) and Isaac Benjamin Victor (b. 2008).
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
financier and environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
.
Career
Goldsmith is a founding partner of WHEB Ventures Limited a venture capital fund that invests in clean technologies, and of its sister company Ruston WHEB. He got an early start in business in his late teens when, after spending six months working at private client brokers, Hargreave-Hale, he and school friend Michael Radomir, sought out clean technologyClean technology
Clean technology includes recycling, renewable energy , information technology, green transportation, electric motors, green chemistry, lighting, Greywater, and many other appliances that are now more energy efficient. It is a means to create electricity and fuels, with a smaller environmental...
businesses for his uncle Edward Goldsmith
Edward Goldsmith
Edward René David Goldsmith , widely known as Teddy Goldsmith, was an Anglo-French environmentalist, writer and philosopher....
and others to invest in. He focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency technologies, alternatives to chemicals, and clean industrial processes.
Goldsmith's investment portfolio is manifold and includes a lucrative sports betting company, Fitzdares. He sometimes works with his brothers Zac Goldsmith
Zac Goldsmith
Frank Zacharias Robin "Zac" Goldsmith, MP is an English environmental journalist, entrepreneur and Conservative Party politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for Richmond Park since winning the seat at the 2010 general election.Goldsmith is the middle child of the late financier Sir...
and Robin Birley
Robin Birley (businessman)
Robin Birley is an English businessman and political activist. He is the son of Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart and nightclub owner Mark Birley...
. They also backed the unsuccessful magazine 'The Sportsman'. In August 2006, the Goldsmith brothers made a bid for the Clermont Club, the casino above Annabel's
Annabel's
Annabel's is a London nightclub, located at 44 Berkeley Square, London. It was founded by entrepreneur Mark Birley and named after Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart, then his wife.-Background:...
, the nightclub named for their mother, but they were thwarted by Malaysian billionaire Quek Leng Chan
Quek Leng Chan
YBhg Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan is a Malaysian tycoon who co-founded Hong Leong Group Malaysia. He is one of the richest men in Malaysia with an estimated net worth of US$2.9 billion according to Forbes in 2007....
. Goldsmith is a shareholder of Luxury Publishing Ltd, the publisher of Annabel's Diamond and Fashion the nightclub's house magazine.
In 2004, he gave £20,000.00 to the UK Green Party
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
. In recent years he has contributed generously to the UK Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
as well as individual candidates like Tory
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MP Michael Gove
Michael Gove
Michael Andrew Gove, MP is a British politician, who currently serves as the Secretary of State for Education and as the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for the Surrey Heath constituency. He is also a published author and former journalist.Born in Edinburgh, Gove was raised in Aberdeen...
and the so-called "Notting Hill
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
set of Conservative modernisers".
Education
Goldsmith attended Eton CollegeEton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
.
Once considered to be anti-bloodsports, he has since spoken out against the ban on fox hunting in the UK, stating that the "ban on fox hunting has nothing to do with animal welfare. If it was, then antis would be campaigning as heavily against factory farming...It's another step in the dismantling of tradition."
Personal life
Goldsmith is the youngest child of the late billionaire Sir James Goldsmith and his 3rd wife Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart. He has an older sister, JemimaJemima Khan
Jemima Marcelle Khan is a British writer and campaigner. She is associate editor of the New Statesman and European editor-at-large for Vanity Fair. She has worked as a charity fundraiser, human rights campaigner and contributing writer for British newspapers and magazines...
, and an older brother, Zac Goldsmith
Zac Goldsmith
Frank Zacharias Robin "Zac" Goldsmith, MP is an English environmental journalist, entrepreneur and Conservative Party politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for Richmond Park since winning the seat at the 2010 general election.Goldsmith is the middle child of the late financier Sir...
. His father famously conducted concurrent liaisons with his second wife, Ben's mother and his mistresses, including Ben's first cousin Lady Cosima Somerset
David Somerset, 11th Duke of Beaufort
David Robert Somerset, 11th Duke of Beaufort is a British peer. He was nominated to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1988.-Early life:...
, legally the younger daughter of Annabel's brother, the 9th Marquess of Londonderry. In 1981, his father left Ben's family in England and went to live in New York with his mistress.
Goldsmith has several half-siblings: Isabel Goldsmith from his father's first marriage, Alix and Manes from his father's second marriage and by his father's mistress Laure Boulay de La Meurthe, he has two younger half-siblings, Jethro and Charlotte. From his mother's first marriage to nightclub magnate Mark Birley
Mark Birley
Marcus Lecky Oswald Hornby Birley , known as Mark Birley, was a British entrepreneur known for his investments in the hospitality industry...
he has two brothers Rupert (now deceased) and Robin Birley
Robin Birley (businessman)
Robin Birley is an English businessman and political activist. He is the son of Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart and nightclub owner Mark Birley...
and a sister India Jane Birley
India Jane Birley
India Jane Birley is a British artist, heiress and businesswoman. She was a co-owner/manager of her father's famed London nightclub, Annabel's, in its later years, as well as some of her father's other establishments.-Biography:...
.
Goldsmith was raised in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
at Ormeley Lodge
Ormeley Lodge
Ormeley Lodge is a 1715 built Grade II* listed Georgian house set in on the edge of Richmond Park in Ham, London, where Lady Annabel Goldsmith raised her children.- External links :*...
and in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. When his father died of pancreatic cancer in 1997, he inherited an estimated £300 million fortune.
Marriage and Family
On September 20, 2003, at St. Mary's Church in Bury St. EdmundsBury St. Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds is a market town in the county of Suffolk, England, and formerly the county town of West Suffolk. It is the main town in the borough of St Edmundsbury and known for the ruined abbey near the town centre...
, he married heiress Kate Emma Rothschild (b. 1982), daughter of the late Amschel Rothschild
Amschel Mayor James Rothschild
Amschel Mayor James Rothschild was a businessman.Rothschild was born in Paris, the youngest child of Victor Rothschild and his second wife, Teresa Georgina Rothschild . On his father's side, he descended from the Rothschild family. His maternal grandfather, Robert John Grote Mayor, was the brother...
and his wife Anita Guinness of the Guinness Brewery
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
family. Their wedding was attended by 600 guests, thickly layered with blue-blooded and Old Etonian friends, among them Lord Frederick Windsor
Lord Frederick Windsor
The Lord Frederick Windsor , popularly known as Lord Freddie, is a British financial analyst, and the only son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent...
and Alexander Spencer-Churchill. The couple have three children: Iris Annabel (b. 2004), Frank James Amschel (b. 2005) and Isaac Benjamin Victor (b. 2008).
External links
- The Greenest Young Couple In Town by Anna Pasternak, Evening Standard (London), February 27, 2004
- Ben Goldsmith ZoomInfo Web Summary
- Ruston Ventures Lmt official website
- Ruston WHEB official website
- "All that glisters could be Goldsmith" by James Burleigh, The Daily Telegraph (Article about Ben's brother ZacZac GoldsmithFrank Zacharias Robin "Zac" Goldsmith, MP is an English environmental journalist, entrepreneur and Conservative Party politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for Richmond Park since winning the seat at the 2010 general election.Goldsmith is the middle child of the late financier Sir...
), December 10, 2005, retrieved December 10, 2005 - Does Anyone Care About Toffs Anymore? by Sebastian Shakespeare, Evening Standard (London), September 19, 2003