Lord Jacob Rothschild Dies at 87

Lord Jacob Rothschild – the financier and member of the Rothschild banking family – has died at the age of 87, his family announced in a statement, Monday

In the statement released to the PA news agency, the Rothschild family said, “Our father Jacob was a towering presence in many peoples’ lives – a superbly accomplished financier, a champion of the arts and culture, a devoted public servant, a passionate supporter of charitable causes in Israel and Jewish culture, a keen environmentalist and much-loved friend, father and grandfather.”

A member of the prominent British banking dynasty, Rothschild became chairman of RIT Capital Partners in 1988 and resigned in 2019.

Between 2003 and 2008, Rothschild was deputy chairman of BSkyB television and patron of the arts, serving as chairman of the National Gallery from 1985 to 1991 and chairman of the Heritage Lottery Fund from 1994 to 1998.

The Rothschild Foundation said Lord Rothschild was an ‘extraordinary person’ who ‘made a profound difference to many areas of British life’.

Born in Berkshire in 1936, the late financier was educated at Eton College and went on to study history at Christ Church College, Oxford University.

Rothschild founded Windmill Hill Asset Management to manage the family’s philanthropic portfolio and was chairman of the managers for The Rothschild Foundation’s philanthropic organization.