Charles Forte, Baron Forte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Forte
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| Born |
Carmine Forte
26 November 1908 Mortale, Italy
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| Died | 28 February 2007 (aged 98) London, England
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| Citizenship | British |
| Occupation | Caterer and hotelier |
| Known for | Forte Group |
| Spouse(s) | Irene Mary Chierico |
| Children | 6, including Rocco Forte and Olga Polizzi |
Charles Forte (born Carmine Forte on November 26, 1908) was a very successful businessman who started many hotels and restaurants. He was born in Italy but moved to Scotland when he was young. He created a huge company called the Forte Group, which owned many famous places to eat and stay. He passed away on February 28, 2007, when he was 98 years old.
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Charles Forte's Early Life
Charles Forte was born as Carmine Forte in a small town called Mortale (now Monforte) in Italy on November 26, 1908. He was the oldest son of Rocco Giovanni Forte and Maria Luigia. When he was just four years old, his family moved from Italy to Scotland.
He went to school at Alloa Academy and then St. Joseph's College, Dumfries. After that, he studied in Rome for two years.
Starting His Career
After his studies in Rome, Charles joined his family in Weston-super-Mare, England. His father ran a café there with some cousins. Charles learned a lot about running a business when he managed a place called The Venetian in Brighton at age 21.
In 1935, when he was 26, he opened his very first business: the Strand Milk Bar Ltd. Soon, he started to open more places, including restaurants and hotels. When World War II began, Charles was held for a short time because he was Italian, but he was released after only three months. After the war, his company grew and became Forte Holdings Ltd. In 1954, he bought the famous Café Royal.
In the 1950s, Charles Forte also opened the first place to eat at Heathrow Airport. He also opened the very first full service station for cars on a motorway in the UK. This was at Newport Pagnell on the M1 motorway in 1959. He also bought the Hungaria Restaurant in London in 1955.
Building a Business Empire
In 1970, Charles Forte's company, Forte Holdings, joined with another company called Trust Houses Group Ltd. Together, they became Trust House Forte, or THF. Charles Forte kept growing this company through buying other businesses. His company became a huge business worth billions of pounds.
His business empire included many well-known places:
- Roadside restaurants like Little Chef and Happy Eater
- Hotels such as Crest, Forte Grand, Travelodge, and Posthouse hotels
- A wine business called Grierson-Blumenthal
- A large part of the famous Savoy Hotel
Charles Forte was the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of the group from 1971. In 1982, his son Rocco took over as CEO, and Charles became the chairman. In 1986, they bought Happy Eater and five Welcome Break service stations. In the 1990s, the company became Forte Group plc.
In 1993, Charles Forte gave full control of the company to his son Rocco. However, soon after, another company called Granada tried to buy the Forte Group. In January 1996, Granada successfully bought the company for about £3.9 billion. The Forte family received around £350 million from this sale.
Charles Forte passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in London on February 28, 2007. He was 98 years old. He is buried in West Hampstead Cemetery.
Awards and Special Titles
Charles Forte was recognized for his achievements many times.
- In 1970, he was made a Knight Bachelor by The Queen Mother. This meant he could be called "Sir Charles Forte."
- On February 2, 1982, he was given the special title of Baron Forte. This made him a life peer, which means he became a member of the House of Lords for his lifetime. His full title was Baron Forte, of Ripley in the County of Surrey.
- He was also a knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, a very old and respected organization.
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Charles Forte's Family
In January 1943, Charles Forte married Irene Mary Chierico. Her family owned a food shop in London. Irene was very good at sewing and appreciated good quality. Her family's shop was destroyed during the Blitz in 1940.
From the 1950s, Charles Forte lived with his large family, including his parents and children, in London. They went to church at St. Mary's Church in Hampstead.
Charles and Irene had six children, five girls and one boy:
- Sir Rocco John Vincent Forte (born 1945). He was also knighted in 1995. He married Aliai Giovanna Maria Ricci in 1986, and they have three children.
- Olga Forte (born 1947). She is also a successful businesswoman. Olga has two children from her first marriage:
- Alexandra Polizzi, who is a hotel manager and a TV presenter on The Hotel Inspector.
- Charlotte Polizzi (born 1973), who married TV celebrity Oliver Peyton.
- Marie Louise Forte (born 1950). She married Robert Alexander Burness and has two children.
- Irene Forte (born 1956). She married US Ambassador John Danilovich and has three children.
- Giancarla Forte (born 1959). She married Michael Ulic Anthony Alen-Buckley and has two children.
Irene, Lady Forte, passed away on September 12, 2010. She is buried next to her husband.
Lord Forte's family came from Mortale (which was later renamed Monforte in his honor) in Italy. He kept the family home there.
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