Amschel Mayor James Rothschild
Encyclopedia
Amschel Mayor James Rothschild (18 April 1955 – 8 July 1996) was a businessman.
Rothschild was born in Paris
, the youngest child of Victor Rothschild
and his second wife, Teresa Georgina Rothschild (née Mayor). On his father's side, he descended from the Rothschild family
. His maternal grandfather, Robert John Grote Mayor, was the brother of English novelist F. M. Mayor
and a greatnephew of philosopher and clergyman John Grote
. His maternal grandmother, Katherine Beatrice Meinertzhagen, was the sister of soldier Richard Meinertzhagen
and the niece of author Beatrice Webb
. He was educated at The Leys School
and graduated from City University in 1976, where he read economics, history and archaeology. His initial vocation was in journalism, as a circulation manager of the now defunct literary magazine, The New Review.
In 1987, Rothschild joined the family banking firm, N M Rothschild & Sons
. By 1990 he was made chief executive of one of the Rothschild's weaker assets, Rothschild Asset Management. In 1993, he became Chairman of the firm, helping to steer it onto a more stable path.
He was not heavily interested in banking. One of his favourite pastimes was farming. Rothschild had inherited an arable farm, Rushbrooke, near Bury St. Edmunds
where he spent many hours at work. He was also a keen racer of cars, and was known as one of the best amateur racers in the country. His passion started when he acquired a scrambler motorcycle, at age thirteen. In later life, he got into motor racing, and was the winner of the Peter Collins Memorial Trophy Race at Silverstone
in 1996. Among his car collection was an AC Cobra Daytona sports car, a 1957 Maserati 250F Formula I, and a 1958 BRM P25 Formula I.
Rothschild was also a trustee of Hanadiv, the Rothschild foundation which has supported many projects in Israel
.
, son of Sir James
and Lady Annabel Goldsmith
); Alice Miranda Rothschild (born 1983); James Amschel Victor Rothschild (born 1985). Rothschild and his wife were also godparents to a daughter of William Waldegrave
.
in July 1996. He was found hanged
at the Hotel Bristol in Paris
. The suicide came hours after a meeting, during which plans were discussed for a massive merger of asset management companies. His death was originally reported as being due to a heart attack. Some sources claim he was strangled in the Paris Hotel.
Rothschild was born in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, the youngest child of Victor Rothschild
Victor Rothschild, 3rd Baron Rothschild
Nathaniel Mayer Victor Rothschild, 3rd Baron Rothschild, GBE, GM, FRS was a biologist by training, a cricketer and a member of the prominent Rothschild family...
and his second wife, Teresa Georgina Rothschild (née Mayor). On his father's side, he descended from the Rothschild family
Rothschild family
The Rothschild family , known as The House of Rothschild, or more simply as the Rothschilds, is a Jewish-German family that established European banking and finance houses starting in the late 18th century...
. His maternal grandfather, Robert John Grote Mayor, was the brother of English novelist F. M. Mayor
F. M. Mayor
Flora Macdonald Mayor , was an English novelist and short story writer who published under the name F. M...
and a greatnephew of philosopher and clergyman John Grote
John Grote
John Grote was an English moral philosopher and Anglican clergyman.The son of a banker, Grote was younger brother to the historian, philosopher and reformer George Grote...
. His maternal grandmother, Katherine Beatrice Meinertzhagen, was the sister of soldier Richard Meinertzhagen
Richard Meinertzhagen
Colonel Richard Henry Meinertzhagen CBE DSO was a British soldier, intelligence officer and ornithologist.- Background and youth :Meinertzhagen was born into a socially connected, wealthy British family...
and the niece of author Beatrice Webb
Beatrice Webb
Martha Beatrice Webb, Lady Passfield was an English sociologist, economist, socialist and social reformer. Although her husband became Baron Passfield in 1929, she refused to be known as Lady Passfield...
. He was educated at The Leys School
The Leys School
The Leys School is a co-educational Independent school, located in Cambridge, England, and is a day and boarding school for about 550 pupils aged between 11 and 18 years...
and graduated from City University in 1976, where he read economics, history and archaeology. His initial vocation was in journalism, as a circulation manager of the now defunct literary magazine, The New Review.
In 1987, Rothschild joined the family banking firm, N M Rothschild & Sons
N M Rothschild & Sons
N M Rothschild & Sons is a private investment banking company, belonging to the Rothschild family...
. By 1990 he was made chief executive of one of the Rothschild's weaker assets, Rothschild Asset Management. In 1993, he became Chairman of the firm, helping to steer it onto a more stable path.
He was not heavily interested in banking. One of his favourite pastimes was farming. Rothschild had inherited an arable farm, Rushbrooke, near Bury St. Edmunds
Bury 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...
where he spent many hours at work. He was also a keen racer of cars, and was known as one of the best amateur racers in the country. His passion started when he acquired a scrambler motorcycle, at age thirteen. In later life, he got into motor racing, and was the winner of the Peter Collins Memorial Trophy Race at Silverstone
Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit is an English motor racing circuit next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. The circuit straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, with the current main circuit entry on the Buckinghamshire side...
in 1996. Among his car collection was an AC Cobra Daytona sports car, a 1957 Maserati 250F Formula I, and a 1958 BRM P25 Formula I.
Rothschild was also a trustee of Hanadiv, the Rothschild foundation which has supported many projects in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Personal Life
In 1981, he married Anita Patience Guinness, daughter of the merchant banker James Edward Alexander Rundell Guinness and Pauline Vivien Mander. They had three children: Kate Emma Rothschild (born 1982) )who married Ben GoldsmithBen Goldsmith
Benjamin James Goldsmith is an English financier and environmentalist.- Career :Goldsmith is a founding partner of a venture capital fund that invests in clean technologies, and of its sister company...
, son of Sir James
James Goldsmith
Sir James Michael "Jimmy" Goldsmith was an Anglo-French billionaire financier and tycoon. Towards the end of his life, he became a magazine publisher and a politician. In 1994, he was elected to represent France as a Member of the European Parliament and he subsequently founded the short-lived...
and Lady Annabel Goldsmith
Lady Annabel Goldsmith
Lady Annabel Goldsmith is a British socialite and the eponym for a celebrated London nightclub of the late 20th century, Annabel's. She was first married for two decades to entrepreneur Mark Birley, the creator of Annabel's, which she helped make a glamorous success as her husband's inaugural...
); Alice Miranda Rothschild (born 1983); James Amschel Victor Rothschild (born 1985). Rothschild and his wife were also godparents to a daughter of William Waldegrave
William Waldegrave, Baron Waldegrave of North Hill
William Arthur Waldegrave, Baron Waldegrave of North Hill, PC , is an English Conservative politician who served in the Cabinet from 1990 until 1997 and is a Life Member of the Tory Reform Group. He is now a life peer. Lord Waldegrave is also the Chairman of the Rhodes Trust and the Chairman of...
.
Death
Rothschild committed suicideSuicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
in July 1996. He was found hanged
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
at the Hotel Bristol in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. The suicide came hours after a meeting, during which plans were discussed for a massive merger of asset management companies. His death was originally reported as being due to a heart attack. Some sources claim he was strangled in the Paris Hotel.