David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Sainsbury of Turville
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Sainsbury in 2013
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| Chancellor of the University of Cambridge | |
| In office 16 October 2011 – 24 July 2025 |
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| Preceded by | The Duke of Edinburgh |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Smith of Finsbury |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation | |
| In office 27 July 1998 – 10 November 2006 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | John Battle |
| Succeeded by | Malcolm Wicks |
| Member of the House of Lords | |
| Life peerage 3 October 1997 – 1 July 2021 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
David John Sainsbury
24 October 1940 |
| Political party | Labour (1960s–81; since 1996) SDP (1981–88) 'Continuing' SDP (1988–90) |
| Spouses | Susan Carroll, Lady Sainsbury, DBE |
| Relations | Alan Sainsbury (uncle) |
| Parents | Robert Sainsbury (father) Lisa van den Bergh (mother) |
| Residences | Turville, Buckinghamshire, England |
| Alma mater | King's College, Cambridge (BA) Columbia University (MBA) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Businessman, philanthropist |
David John Sainsbury, also known as Lord Sainsbury of Turville, was born on October 24, 1940. He is a British politician, a successful businessman, and a generous giver to charity. From 1992 to 1997, he was the chairman of Sainsbury's. This well-known supermarket chain was started by his great-grandfather in 1869.
In 1997, he became a 'life peer' in the House of Lords as a member of the Labour Party. A life peer is someone given a special title for life, allowing them to be part of the House of Lords. He took a break from the House of Lords from 2013 until he retired in 2021. From 1998 to 2006, he worked in the government as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation.
Lord Sainsbury has given a lot of money to the University of Cambridge. In 2011, he was chosen to be the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. This is a very important leadership role at the university. He also made the largest donation ever in British politics. In 2019, he gave £8 million to the Liberal Democrats political party.
Contents
Early Life and Business Career
Growing Up and Education
David Sainsbury is the son of Sir Robert Sainsbury and Lisa Ingeborg van den Bergh. He went to Eton College, a famous school. After that, he studied History and Psychology at King's College, Cambridge at the University of Cambridge. He then earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Columbia Business School in the United States.
Joining the Family Business
In 1963, Sainsbury joined his family's company, then called J. Sainsbury Ltd. He started in the personnel department. By 1966, he became a director. He worked as the Financial Controller from 1971 to 1973. This was just before the company became publicly traded on the stock market.
Sainsbury's Goes Public
On July 12, 1973, J. Sainsbury Ltd. was listed on the London Stock Exchange. This was the biggest company listing at that time. His family kept most of the company, owning 85% of the shares. David's father, Sir Robert Sainsbury, gave almost all his shares to David. David became the group's Finance Director from 1973 to 1990. During these years, the company grew very quickly.
Leading the Company
From 1984 to 1993, David Sainsbury was chairman of Savacentre. This was the company's hypermarket business. He became deputy chairman of Sainsbury's from 1988 to 1992. In November 1992, he became the chairman of Sainsbury's.
In 1996, Sainsbury's announced that its profits had dropped for the first time in 22 years. David Sainsbury decided to step down as chairman. He wanted to focus on his goal of having a career in politics. When he announced his retirement, the company's share price actually went up.
To avoid any conflicts of interest, David Sainsbury put his shares in Sainsbury's into a "blind" trust. This meant he didn't control them directly. In 2005, he announced he would give £1 billion to charity. Because of this, his shares in Sainsbury's were gradually sold. Today, he still owns a good number of shares in the supermarket chain. The Sainsbury family as a whole controls about 15% of the company.
Political Career
Early Political Involvement
David Sainsbury first joined the Labour Party in the 1960s. However, in 1981, he became a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He was a very important supporter of the SDP, giving them a lot of money. He wanted the party to get more members and have a strong financial base.
Returning to Labour
After the 1987 election, Sainsbury did not want the SDP to merge with the Liberal Party. He helped to create a separate SDP party in 1988. This party later ended in 1990. Sainsbury then rejoined the Labour Party in 1996. A year later, after Labour won the election, he became a peer in the House of Lords. He was given the title Baron Sainsbury of Turville in October 1997.
Donations to Political Parties
Between 1996 and 2006, David Sainsbury donated £16 million to the Labour Party. He continued to donate more money after that. He gave another £2 million in 2007, saying he liked Gordon Brown's leadership. He believed Labour was the only party focused on both fairness and economic success. In total, he donated £18.5 million to the Labour Party.
In 2006, he faced questions about a loan he made to the Labour Party. He later apologized for accidentally giving wrong information. In November 2006, he resigned as Science Minister. He said he wanted to focus on business and charity work. From 1998 to 2006, he served as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation. He worked in the House of Lords and did not take a salary for this role.
Later Political Activities
Sainsbury has also been involved with other political groups. He helped create the Institute for Government in 2009. This organization helps politicians prepare for government roles. He also gave money to the "Remain" campaign during the 2016 vote on whether the UK should stay in the European Union.
After the 2017 election, Sainsbury said he would stop giving money to political parties. He decided to focus on charitable causes instead. However, in 2018, he did donate to a Scottish Conservative MP. In the 2019 general election, he made a huge donation of £8 million to the Liberal Democrats. This was more than half of the party's funding for that election.
Charitable Works
The Gatsby Charitable Foundation
In 1967, David Sainsbury started the Gatsby Charitable Foundation. In 1993, he gave £200 million worth of Sainsbury's shares to this foundation. By 2009, the foundation had given £660 million to many different charities. In 2009, he added another £465 million to the foundation. This made him the first British person to donate more than £1 billion to charity. He also set up the Sainsbury Management Fellowship scheme in 1987. This program helps British engineers become leaders in industry.
Awards and University Donations
In 2003, Sainsbury received the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. This award recognizes people who are very generous with their wealth. He has given £127 million from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation to the University of Cambridge. For example, he gave £45 million to the Cambridge University Botanic Garden in 2005. In 2011, the Sainsbury Laboratory opened at Cambridge. This was built with an £82 million donation from the Gatsby Foundation in 2008.
The Giving Pledge
In 2013, David Sainsbury and his wife, Susie, joined the Giving Pledge. This is a group started by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates. Members promise to donate at least half of their wealth to charity during their lifetime.
Chancellor of the University of Cambridge
In 2011, David Sainsbury was suggested to become the next Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. This role was previously held by the Duke of Edinburgh. His election was challenged by other candidates, which was unusual. An election took place in October 2011. Sainsbury won with 52% of the votes. He officially became Chancellor on October 16, 2011.
In February 2024, the university announced that Lord Sainsbury planned to step down from his role as Chancellor later that year.
Personal Life
David Sainsbury and his wife, Susan Carroll, have three daughters. Lady Sainsbury is a former teacher. She is also a Trustee of the Royal Academy of Music. In 2022, she was honored for her services to the Arts. The family lives in Turville, Buckinghamshire. The Manor of Turville is a historic estate.
David Sainsbury has three sisters: Elizabeth, Celia, and Annabel. His uncle was Alan Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury. His cousins include Simon Sainsbury, John Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Preston Candover, and Sir Tim Sainsbury. His great-grandparents, John James Sainsbury and Mary Ann Staples, started the Sainsbury's grocery store in 1869.
Academic Titles
- In 1994, Sainsbury became an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
- In 2001, he was chosen as an international member of the American Philosophical Society.
- In 2003, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- In 2007, he received an honorary science degree from University College London.
- In 2007, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Heriot-Watt University.
- In 2008, he received an honorary science degree from the University of Bath.
- In 2008, he was made an honorary fellow of the Royal Society.
See also
