Victor Rothschild, 3rd Baron Rothschild facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Rothschild
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| Born |
Nathaniel Mayer Victor Rothschild
31 October 1910 |
| Died | 20 March 1990 (aged 79) |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Biologist |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse(s) |
Barbara Judith Hutchinson
(m. 1933, divorced)Teresa Georgina Mayor
(m. 1946) |
| Children | 6, including:
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Nathaniel Mayer Victor Rothschild, 3rd Baron Rothschild (31 October 1910 – 20 March 1990) was a British scientist and important public figure. He worked as an intelligence officer during World War II. Later, he held senior positions at large companies like Royal Dutch Shell. He also advised the British governments led by Edward Heath and Margaret Thatcher. He was a member of the famous Rothschild family.
Contents
Victor Rothschild's Life Story
Early Years and Family
Victor Rothschild was the only son of Charles Rothschild and Rózsika Rothschild. His family was Jewish, and his father came from the well-known Rothschild banking family. His mother was the daughter of the first Jewish person in Austria to receive a noble title.
He grew up in large family homes like Waddesdon Manor. He had three sisters, including Pannonica de Koenigswarter, who was known as the "Jazz Baroness" because she loved jazz music. Another sister, Dame Miriam Louisa Rothschild, became a famous scientist who studied insects. Victor went to Stanmore Park and Harrow School.
University and Early Career
Victor studied at Trinity College, Cambridge. He focused on subjects like physiology (how living things work), French, and English. He was very good at his studies and quickly started a career in scientific research. He earned his PhD in 1937.
He also played first-class cricket for his university and for Northamptonshire. At Cambridge, he enjoyed life, driving a fancy car and collecting art and rare books.
Victor joined a secret society at Cambridge called the Cambridge Apostles. At that time, many members had left-wing political views. He became friends with Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt, and Kim Philby. These friends later became known as the Cambridge Spy Ring. Victor even shared a flat in London with Burgess and Blunt. This later led to some people wondering if he was involved in the spy ring, but he was cleared of any wrongdoing.
In 1937, Victor became the 3rd Baron Rothschild after his uncle died. This meant he could sit in the House of Lords, which is part of the British Parliament. He only spoke there twice in his life. In 1945, he joined the Labour Party.
Working During World War II
During World War II, Victor Rothschild was recruited to work for MI5, Britain's security service. He had many important roles, including dealing with bombs, spreading false information to trick the enemy, and spying. He won the George Medal for his brave and dangerous work.
He led a section that focused on explosives and stopping sabotage. He even personally took apart German booby traps and hidden bombs to understand them. He also helped run an operation called "Fifth Column." This operation used an MI5 officer to pretend to be a German spy in London. This helped them find hundreds of people who supported the Nazis in Britain.
After the War: Science and Government Advice
After the war, Victor continued his scientific work. From 1950 to 1970, he worked in the zoology department at Cambridge University. He also led the Agricultural Research Council for a decade. From 1963 to 1970, he was the worldwide head of research for the large oil company Royal Dutch Shell.
In 1964, Anthony Blunt was revealed to be a Soviet spy. Because Victor had been friends with Blunt, he was questioned by the police. However, he was found to be innocent and continued to work for the British government.
From 1971 to 1974, Victor Rothschild led a special group called the Central Policy Review Staff, also known as "The Think Tank." This group researched and advised the government on important policies.
He received honorary degrees from Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University in Jerusalem for his contributions to science and Israel. There is even an annual event named after him, the "Victor Rothschild Memorial Symposia," which focuses on advanced studies.
Later Years and Spy Rumours
In the 1980s, Victor tried to help resolve disagreements within his family's bank, but he was not successful. His son, Jacob Rothschild, left the bank to start his own company.
Victor continued to advise the government, especially on security matters, for Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He was mentioned in a book called Spycatcher. He hoped this book would help clear up any remaining questions about his role during the war and the Cambridge spy ring.
Some people, like Australian author Roland Perry, claimed that Victor Rothschild was the "Fifth Man" in the Cambridge spy ring. However, this claim has been strongly denied by many others, including Yuri Modin, who was the actual handler for the Cambridge spies. Modin stated that Victor Rothschild was never a Soviet agent. Historians Christopher Andrew and Vasili Mitrokhin also confirmed that the "Fifth Man" was actually John Cairncross, not Rothschild.
Victor Rothschild himself published a letter in British newspapers in 1986, clearly stating, "I am not, and never have been, a Soviet agent."
He wrote two books about his life and thoughts: Meditations of a Broomstick (1977) and Random Variables (1984).
Family Life
In 1933, Victor Rothschild married Barbara Judith Hutchinson. They had three children: Sarah, Nathaniel Charles Jacob (who became Jacob Rothschild), and Miranda.
In 1946, he married Teresa Georgina Mayor, who had worked with him at MI5. They had four children:
- Emma Georgina Rothschild (born 1948), who married the economist Amartya Sen.
- Benjamin Mayer Rothschild (born and died in 1952).
- Victoria Katherine Rothschild (born 1953), who became an academic lecturer.
- Amschel Mayor James Rothschild (1955–1996).
Although he was born into a Jewish family, Victor Rothschild later said he was an atheist. He was buried in the historic Jewish Brady Street Cemetery. His sister Miriam Louisa Rothschild was a famous scientist who studied insects. His other sister, Nica de Koenigswarter, was a big fan of jazz music and supported famous musicians like Thelonious Monk.
Awards and Honours
Titles
- 3rd Baron Rothschild, of Tring, co. Hertford [U.K., 1885], 27 August 1937.
- 4th Baronet Rothschild [U.K., 1847], 27 August 1937.
- Knight Grand Cross, Order of the British Empire (G.B.E.), 1975.
- Knight, Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (K.St.J.).
- Fellow, Royal Society (F.R.S.), 1953.
- Major, Intelligence Corps.
Decorations
- George Medal (G.M.) (United Kingdom), 1944.
- Legion of Merit (United States), 1946.
- Bronze Star Medal (United States), 1948.
