Herbert Stern, 1st Baron Michelham
The Lord Michelham | |
|---|---|
%252C_1st_Baron_Michelham.png) | |
| Born | 28 September 1851 |
| Died | 7 January 1919 (aged 67) |
| Occupations |
|
| Parent | Hermann de Stern |
| Relatives |
|
Herbert Stern, 1st Baron Michelham KCVO (28 September 1851 – 7 January 1919), known as Sir Herbert Stern, Bt, between July and December 1905, was a British financier, philanthropist and a member of the Stern banking family.
Background
Stern was the son of Hermann de Stern (1815-1887), a German-born banker, head of the merchant bank Stern Brothers (London) and Portuguese baron (created 1864), and Julia Goldsmid.[1] He was the first cousin of Lord Wandsworth and Sir Edward Stern.
Career
On his father's death, in October 1887, Stern inherited the Portuguese barony and a fortune of £2 million, which he substantially increased during his lifetime. He was a prominent philanthropist, contributing to the National Gallery and funding Adrian Jones' quadriga atop Wellington Arch via an anonymous donation of approximately £20,000.[2] During the First World War he acquired Hotel Astoria in Paris to be used as a hospital for British troops.[1] He was also involved in thoroughbred horse racing and is known for having bred Plucky Liege, one of the most important broodmares of the 20th century.[3]
Stern was created a Baronet, of Strawberry Hill in the Parish of Twickenham and County of Middlesex, in July 1905[4] and raised to the peerage as Baron Michelham, of Hellingly in the County of Sussex, in December of the same year.[5] He was elected an Alderman of the London County Council on 12 March 1907.[6]
Stern was elected a director of the Metropolitan District Railway Company on 6 October 1904, and held that position until resigning in February 1906.[7] He was elected a director of the Cambrian Railway Company in August 1905.
Lord Michelham was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in 1912.[8]
Personal life
Stern married Aimee Geraldine Bradshaw on 28 July 1899.[9] She had been born on 20 March 1882, and was thus aged 17 at the time of this marriage.
Lord Michelham died at his London home, Prince`s Gate, on 7 January 1919,[10] aged 67, and was succeeded by his son, Herman Alfred (1900-1984).[1]
References
- ^ a b c Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1922). . Encyclopædia Britannica (12th ed.). London & New York: The Encyclopædia Britannica Company.
- ^ English Heritage, english-heritage.com. Accessed 26 August 2024
- ^ Plucky Liege, tbheritage.com. Accessed 2 January 2023.
- ^ "No. 27818". The London Gazette. 18 July 1905. p. 4981.
- ^ "No. 27871". The London Gazette. 5 January 1906. p. 107.
- ^ The Jewish World, 15 March 1907, p.226.
- ^ Horne, Mike A. C. (2019). London`s District Railway: Volume Two Twentieth Century. London: Capital Transport Publishing Ltd. p. 129. ISBN 978 1 85414 430 0.
- ^ "No. 28596". The London Gazette. 5 April 1912. p. 2495.
- ^ Davoli, Silvia (2022). "I shall now go on selling as much as I can to these people: Duveen Brothers and the making of the Stern-Michelham collection". Journal of the History of Collections. 34 (3): 413–426.
- ^ Manchester Evening News, 7 January 1919, p.3.
Sources
Orbell, John. "Stern family (per. c.1830–1964)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/53820. (Subscription, Wikipedia Library access or UK public library membership required.)