Sir Evelyn De Rothschild, who was knighted by the Queen in 1989 for his contributions to banking and finance and is largely regarded as one of the top financiers and philanthropists of his time, has died at the age of 91.
According to a statement sent by his family, British financier Sir Evelyn de Rothschild has passed away at age 91.
Anthony de Rothschild and Yvonne Cahen d’Anvers, members of the Bischoffsheim banking family, were the parents of Sir Evelyn.
He was knighted by the Queen in 1989 for his contributions to banking and finance and is largely regarded as one of the top financiers and philanthropists of his time.
Sir Evelyn was an enthusiastic horse owner and trainer, and his mount Crystal Ocean won the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2018.
His family released the following statement: “After a short illness, Lady de Rothschild announces the death of her beloved husband, Sir Evelyn de Rothschild.
“Sir Evelyn passed away peacefully yesterday evening at his home in London with his loved ones by his side.
“The family appreciates thoughts and prayers at this very sad time.”
He was born in London in 1931, went to Harrow School and the University of Cambridge, and then, after his father retired in 1961, committed his life to the family bank.
Between 1976 and 2003, Sir Evelyn served as the bank’s chief executive officer and chairman. From 1972 to 1989, he served as the chairman of The Economist.
His great-great-great-grandfather had founded a financial family that helped fund the Duke of Wellington’s triumph over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
The total assets of his family’s bank increased from £40 million to £4.6 billion under Sir Evelyn’s leadership.
He was knighted by the Queen in 1989 for his contributions to banking and finance.
Sir Evelyn managed to unite the London branch of his family bank, now known as Rothschild & Co, with its French counterpart, Rothschild & Compagnie Banque, before he eventually retired from his position as head of finance.
“The first important strength of the family is unity,” he told the New York Times in 1996, as he and his cousin, David de Rothschild, head of the French house, announced their new partnership.
Sir Evelyn served as the chairman of the Economist magazine from 1972 to 1989 in addition to his position with his family’s business. In an interview with Bloomberg News in 2002, he referred to the magazine as “probably the most important independent publication in the world.”
Mayer Amschel, who began by purchasing and selling used coins in a Frankfurt shanty, founded the Rothschild dynasty.
Mayer sent his five sons to establish bases in London, Paris, Vienna, Naples, and Frankfurt during the beginning of the 1800s.
The family’s influence began to decline by the 20th century, though, as European nations increasingly turned to American banks to help them finance their wars against Germany.
Sir Evelyn was married three times, in 1966 to Jeannette Bishop, in 1973 to Victoria Schott, and in 2000 to Lynn Forester.
He has two stepsons with Lynn in addition to his three children with Victoria.
Later in life, Sir Evelyn became involved in charity and became the head of the Eranda Rothschild foundation, which has given more than £73 million to the arts, education, and medical research.
Along with the Rajmata of Jaipur and the late brother of the Duchess of Cornwall, Mark Shand, he also launched the conservation organisation Elephant Family in 2002.
He is likely best known in the racing community as the breeder and owner of Crystal Ocean, who won eight races for Sir Michael Stoute before retiring at the end of 2019.
Under Frankie Dettori, the son of Sea The Stars won the Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot in that year. Additionally, he won the 2018 Hardwicke Stakes, the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown, and the Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury in consecutive years.
The Stoute-trained duo of Crystal Capella and Hillstar, the latter of which won the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2013 before winning the Canadian International the following year, are two more prominent horses that have won major races while wearing the Rothschild silks.
Ogee, trained by Renee Robeson and winner of the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at the 2009 Grand National meeting at Aintree, brought Sir Evelyn additional success over jumps.
His wife Lynn, his three children, Jessica, Anthony, and David, as well as his two stepsons, John Forester Stein and Benjamin Forester Stein, all survive him.
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You make out like he was a wonderful humanitarian but he was pure evil. Good riddance.