James de Rothschild (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James de Rothschild
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| Member of Parliament for Isle of Ely |
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| In office 30 May 1929 – 15 June 1945 |
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| Preceded by | Hugh Lucas-Tooth |
| Succeeded by | Harry Legge-Bourke |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Armand Edmond de Rothschild
1 December 1878 Paris, France |
| Died | 7 May 1957 (aged 78) London, England |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | |
| Parents | Edmond James de Rothschild Adelheid von Rothschild |
| Known for | Member of British Parliament |
James Armand Edmond de Rothschild (1878 – 1957), often called Jimmy de Rothschild, was a British politician and a generous giver to charity. He came from the very rich Rothschild family, known for their international banking business. He was a member of the Liberal Party.
Early Life and Military Service
James de Rothschild was born in Paris, France, on December 1, 1878. His father was Edmond James de Rothschild, from the French part of the famous Rothschild family. James went to school in Paris and then studied at Trinity College, Cambridge in England.
When the First World War started, he first joined the French Army. Later, he became an officer in the Canadian Army, with a group called The Royal Canadian Dragoons. He finished the war as an officer in the British Army. He served in Palestine as a major in the 39th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. This group was part of the "Jewish Legion", which was made up of Jewish volunteers. For his bravery, he received the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
James de Rothschild loved horse racing. He owned racehorses, and one of his horses, named "Bomba", won a big race called the Ascot Gold Cup in 1909.
In 1913, he married Dorothy Mathilde Pinto. She was 17 years old, and he was 35.
In 1920, James became a British citizen. Two years later, in 1922, he inherited a large estate called Waddesdon Manor from his great-aunt, Alice Charlotte von Rothschild. This beautiful estate had belonged to his great-uncle, Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, who was also a politician.
Political Career
James de Rothschild was known as a lively and interesting politician. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Isle of Ely area from 1929 to 1945. An MP is a person elected to represent their area in the British Parliament, which is like the country's main law-making body.
In the 1945 general election, he lost his seat to Harry Legge-Bourke. This was a tough election for the Liberal Party.
During the Second World War, James de Rothschild worked in the government. He was the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply. This ministry was very important during the war, making sure the country had enough weapons and supplies. He also held local roles, serving as a deputy lieutenant for London and a justice of the peace in Buckinghamshire. A justice of the peace is a volunteer who helps with local legal matters.
Giving Back: Philanthropy
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James de Rothschild continued to support the causes his father believed in, especially Zionism. Zionism is a movement that supported the creation and development of a Jewish state in the historical Land of Israel. He gave a huge amount of money, IL6,000,000 (which was a lot back then!), to help build the Knesset building in Jerusalem. The Knesset is the parliament of Israel, where the country's laws are made. The building was finished in 1966.
When James de Rothschild passed away in 1957, he left his beautiful home, Waddesdon Manor, to the National Trust. The National Trust is a charity in the UK that protects important historic places and natural spaces. His wife, Dorothy de Rothschild, inherited the land around the estate and continued to care for the house and its collections until she died in 1988.
See also
- Palestine Jewish Colonization Association
