Lionel Nathan de Rothschild
Encyclopedia
Lionel Nathan de Rothschild (25 January 1882 – 28 January 1942) was an English
banker and Conservative
politician
best remembered as the creator of Exbury Gardens
. He was the eldest of the three sons of Leopold de Rothschild
(1845–1917) and Marie née Perugia (1862–1937) and a part of the prominent Rothschild banking family of England
.
Lionel Nathan de Rothschild was born in London
and educated at Harrow School
and Trinity College, Cambridge
. On 25 January 1910 he was elected to the House of Commons for the constituency of Aylesbury
in Buckinghamshire
. In 1912 he married Marie Louise Eugénie Beer (1892–1975). They had the following children:
At the outbreak of World War I
, Lionel's younger brothers Evelyn
and Anthony
both joined the British Army
. However, as the eldest son he was needed as the heir to take over the family's N M Rothschild & Sons
banking house. Much to his frustration, Lionel de Rothschild had no choice but to remain at home with the bank. Both of his brothers were wounded in battle and brother Evelyn died of combat injuries suffered at the 1917 Battle of Mughar Ridge
.
His father, Leopold, died in early 1917 and Lionel and brother Anthony became the managing partners of N M Rothschild & Sons bank. However, Lionel de Rothschild had developed an interest in horticulture
at a very young age and is said to have planted his first garden at the age of five. In 1919, he purchased the Mitford estate at Exbury
in Hampshire
where he devoted a great deal of time and money to transform it into one of the finest gardens in all of England with more than one million plants. In the 1920s, he built Exbury House around an existing structure in a neo-Georgian
style. He constructed a private railway to transport rocks to build the largest rock garden
in the country. As well, Lionel de Rothschild co-sponsored plant-hunting expeditions to places as isolated as the Himalayas
to collect seed for plant growth and experimentation. In all, he developed 1,204 new hybrids of rhododendron
and azalea
that were recognized and sold around the world. Although he continued to work at the family bank, he is quoted as describing himself as "a banker by hobby — a gardener by profession".
Lionel Nathan de Rothschild died in 1942 and was buried in the Willesden Jewish Cemetery
. His son Edmund took over management of the Exbury Gardens and would eventually create a charitable trust to manage the property. In 2001, the American Rhododendron Society recognized Lionel Nathan de Rothschild's significant contribution, posthumously bestowing on him a Pioneer Achievement Award.
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...
banker and Conservative
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
best remembered as the creator of Exbury Gardens
Exbury Gardens
Exbury Gardens is a famous garden in Hampshire, England, which belongs to a branch of the Rothschild family. It is situated in the village of Exbury, just to the east of Beaulieu across the river from Bucklers Hard...
. He was the eldest of the three sons of Leopold de Rothschild
Leopold de Rothschild
Leopold de Rothschild CVO was a British banker, thoroughbred race horse breeder, and a member of the prominent Rothschild family.-Education and career:...
(1845–1917) and Marie née Perugia (1862–1937) and a part of the prominent Rothschild banking family of England
Rothschild banking family of England
The Rothschild banking family of England was founded in 1798 by Nathan Mayer von Rothschild who first settled in Manchester but then moved to London. Nathan was sent there from his home in Frankfurt by his father, Mayer Amschel Rothschild...
.
Lionel Nathan de Rothschild was born in London
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...
and educated at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. On 25 January 1910 he was elected to the House of Commons for the constituency of Aylesbury
Aylesbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Aylesbury is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. The Conservative Party has held the seat since 1924, and held it at the 2010 general election with a 52.2% share of the vote.-Boundaries:...
in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
. In 1912 he married Marie Louise Eugénie Beer (1892–1975). They had the following children:
- Rosemary Leonora Ruth (b. 1913)
- Edmund LeopoldEdmund Leopold de RothschildEdmund Leopold de Rothschild, CBE, TD was an English financier, a member of the prominent Rothschild banking family of England, and a recipient of the Victoria Medal of Honour , given by the Royal Horticultural Society....
(1916–2009) - Naomi Luisa Nina (b. 1920)
- Leopold DavidLeopold David de RothschildLeopold David de Rothschild, CBE, FRCM is a British financier, musician, and a member of the Rothschild banking family of England....
(b. 1927)
At the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Lionel's younger brothers Evelyn
Evelyn Achille de Rothschild
Evelyn Achille de Rothschild Evelyn Achille de Rothschild (B.A.) Evelyn Achille de Rothschild (B.A.) (January 6, 1886 - November 17, 1917 was a British banker and soldier. Born in London, England, he was the second of three sons of Leopold de Rothschild (1845–1917) and Marie Perugia (1862–1937)...
and Anthony
Anthony Gustav de Rothschild
Anthony Gustav de Rothschild was a British banker and member of the Rothschild banking family. Born in London, England, he was the third and youngest of the three sons of Leopold de Rothschild and Marie Perugia...
both joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. However, as the eldest son he was needed as the heir to take over the family's N M Rothschild & Sons
N M Rothschild & Sons
N M Rothschild & Sons is a private investment banking company, belonging to the Rothschild family...
banking house. Much to his frustration, Lionel de Rothschild had no choice but to remain at home with the bank. Both of his brothers were wounded in battle and brother Evelyn died of combat injuries suffered at the 1917 Battle of Mughar Ridge
Battle of Mughar Ridge
The Battle of El Mughar Ridge , took place on 13 November 1917 during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of the First World War...
.
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
at a very young age and is said to have planted his first garden at the age of five. In 1919, he purchased the Mitford estate at Exbury
Exbury
Exbury is a village in Hampshire, England. It lies just in the New Forest, near the Beaulieu River and about a mile from the Solent coast. It is best known as the location of Exbury House, built by the Rothschild family, and the famous Exbury Gardens...
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
where he devoted a great deal of time and money to transform it into one of the finest gardens in all of England with more than one million plants. In the 1920s, he built Exbury House around an existing structure in a neo-Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
style. He constructed a private railway to transport rocks to build the largest rock garden
Rock Garden
The Rock Garden or Rock Garden of Chandigarh is a Sculpture garden in Chandigarh, India, also known as Nek Chand's Rock Garden after its founder Nek Chand, a government official who started the garden secretly in his spare time in 1957. Today it is spread over an area of forty-acres , it is...
in the country. As well, Lionel de Rothschild co-sponsored plant-hunting expeditions to places as isolated as the Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
to collect seed for plant growth and experimentation. In all, he developed 1,204 new hybrids of rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
and azalea
Azalea
Azaleas are flowering shrubs comprising two of the eight subgenera of the genus Rhododendron, Pentanthera and Tsutsuji . Azaleas bloom in spring, their flowers often lasting several weeks...
that were recognized and sold around the world. Although he continued to work at the family bank, he is quoted as describing himself as "a banker by hobby — a gardener by profession".
Lionel Nathan de Rothschild died in 1942 and was buried in the Willesden Jewish Cemetery
Willesden Jewish Cemetery
Willesden Jewish Cemetery is a cemetery for Jews in Beaconsfield Road, Willesden, London Borough of Brent. It opened in 1873 on a site. More properly, it is the Willesden United Synagogue Cemetery.-Notable burials:...
. His son Edmund took over management of the Exbury Gardens and would eventually create a charitable trust to manage the property. In 2001, the American Rhododendron Society recognized Lionel Nathan de Rothschild's significant contribution, posthumously bestowing on him a Pioneer Achievement Award.