Sir Robert Septimus Gardiner (1856–1939) was a British businessman.

The seventh son of the Rev. George Gregory Gardiner, and grandson of John Gardiner

John Gardiner

John Gardiner may refer to:* John Gardiner * John Sylvester John Gardiner * John Gardiner , banker and grazier* John Gardiner , Scottish footballer...

, he attended Grenoble University and was fluent in French

French language

French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...

, German

German language

German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....

 and English

English language

English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

. A successful businessman who served on the boards of many companies; his chief interests were in mining and securities. He also was invested in the arts: he was the composer of the Lyric Polka, he became director and chairman of the board of the Alhambra Theatre

Alhambra Theatre

The Alhambra was a popular theatre and music hall located on the east side of Leicester Square, in the West End of London. It was built originally as The Royal Panopticon of Science and Arts opening on 18 March 1854. It was closed after two years and reopened as the Alhambra. The building was...

.

In 1896 he married Alice von Ziegesar, daughter of Baron von Ziegesar; she wrote a book of poems, A Garland of Roses as well as a novel which remained unpublished. He obtained knighthood from the Lloyd George

David Lloyd George

David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...

 National Government in 1922, becoming a Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John. He accomplished this by paying 15,000 pounds towards a newspaper called the Near East. He was the father of three children, Cyril, Gerald

Gerald Gardiner, Baron Gardiner

Gerald Austin Gardiner, Baron Gardiner, CH, QC, PC , was a British Labour politician, who served as Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain from 1964 to 1970 and during that time he introduced into British law as many reforms as any Lord Chancellor had done before or since...

 (later Lord Chancellor

Lord Chancellor

The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...

), and Nevile

Nevile Gardiner

Nevile Gardiner, was an English diplomat. He was brother of Baron Gerald Gardiner , his father was Sir Robert Septimus Gardiner and his mother was Alice von Ziegesar ....

, born in 1897, 1900 and 1902, respectively.

He died 16 November 1939.