Herbert Stern, 1st Baron Michelham

The Lord Michelham
Born28 September 1851 (1851-09-28)
Died7 January 1919 (1919-01-08) (aged 67)
Occupations
  • Financier
  • philanthropist
ParentHermann 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, a German-born banker, head of the merchant bank Stern Brothers (London) and Portuguese baron, 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]

Lord Michelham was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in 1912.[7]

Personal life

Stern married Aimee Geraldine Bradshaw on 28 July 1899.[8]

Lord Michelham died in Paris in January 1919, aged 67, and was succeeded by his son, Herman Alfred (1900-1984).[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1922). "Michelham, Herbert Stern, 1st Baron" . Encyclopædia Britannica (12th ed.). London & New York: The Encyclopædia Britannica Company.
  2. ^ English Heritage, english-heritage.com. Accessed 26 August 2024
  3. ^ Plucky Liege, tbheritage.com. Accessed 2 January 2023.
  4. ^ "No. 27818". The London Gazette. 18 July 1905. p. 4981.
  5. ^ "No. 27871". The London Gazette. 5 January 1906. p. 107.
  6. ^ The Jewish World, 15 March 1907, p.226.
  7. ^ "No. 28596". The London Gazette. 5 April 1912. p. 2495.
  8. ^ 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.

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 or UK public library membership required.)