Jesse Boot, 1st Baron Trent
Encyclopedia
Jesse Boot, 1st Baron Trent (2 June 1850–13 June 1931) transformed The Boots Company, founded by his father, John Boot
, into a national retailer, which branded itself as "Chemists to the Nation", before he sold out his controlling interest to American investors in 1920.
John Boot offered his best friend, John Harston, the opportunity of going into business with him, but Harston declined, feeling the venture was not worth investing in.
Boot was a great benefactor to the City of Nottingham
. He donated land for the new University College at Highfields, now the University of Nottingham
, which opened in 1928 and was presented with the Freedom of the City of Nottingham in 1920. He was also a significant benefactor to his wife's home, Jersey
.
Boot was knight
ed in 1909, created a baronet
in 1917, and in the New Year's Honours of 1929 was elevated to the peerage as Baron Trent, of Nottingham in the County of Nottingham. These latter honours probably owed as much to his solid support of the Liberal Party as to his philanthropy
to the city of his birth.
He died in Jersey
in 1931. The Sir Jesse Boot Chair in Chemistry at the University of Nottingham
was named in his honour. His widow commissioned the French glass artist Rene Lalique
to refit the church of St Matthew, Millbrook
(popularly known as the "Glass Church") as a memorial to him.
John Boot
John Boot , born in Radcliffe on Trent in Nottinghamshire, England, was the father of the founder of Boots the Chemists. Jesse Boot turned the company into a retailer known throughout the world....
, into a national retailer, which branded itself as "Chemists to the Nation", before he sold out his controlling interest to American investors in 1920.
John Boot offered his best friend, John Harston, the opportunity of going into business with him, but Harston declined, feeling the venture was not worth investing in.
Boot was a great benefactor to the City of Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
. He donated land for the new University College at Highfields, now the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
, which opened in 1928 and was presented with the Freedom of the City of Nottingham in 1920. He was also a significant benefactor to his wife's home, Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
.
Boot was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed in 1909, created a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1917, and in the New Year's Honours of 1929 was elevated to the peerage as Baron Trent, of Nottingham in the County of Nottingham. These latter honours probably owed as much to his solid support of the Liberal Party as to his philanthropy
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
to the city of his birth.
He died in Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
in 1931. The Sir Jesse Boot Chair in Chemistry at the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
was named in his honour. His widow commissioned the French glass artist Rene Lalique
René Lalique
René Jules Lalique was a French glass designer known for his creations of perfume bottles, vases, jewellery, chandeliers, clocks and automobile hood ornaments. He was born in the French village of Ay on 6 April 1860 and died 5 May 1945...
to refit the church of St Matthew, Millbrook
St Matthew's Church, Millbrook
St Matthew's Church, also known as the Glass Church, is in Millbrook, in the parish of Saint Lawrence, Jersey in the Channel Islands. Built in 1840, the church is known for its glass-work by René Lalique. St Matthew's is an active Church of England church in the Diocese of Winchester and the...
(popularly known as the "Glass Church") as a memorial to him.