𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚

1875 Lionel de Rothschild assists the British Government to purchase shares in the Suez Canal Baron Lionel de Rothschild (1808-1879) is remembered in business for his assistance to the British Government in 1875 to procure the Khedive of Egypt's share in the Suez Canal. Lionel advanced a personal loan of £4 million to his friend Disraeli, a huge sum at the time. (Above Receipt from the Treasury for the repayment of the first instalment of the 'Suez' loan 9th March 1876).

1874 Albert von Rothschild succeeds his father a head of the Viennese house Anselm Salomon von Rothschild died in 1874, and his son Salomon Albert Anselm took control of the business. Under Albert, S M von Rothschild & Söhne became banker-in-chief to the Austrian government and the family's industrial holdings were increased. (Above Salomon Albert Anselm von Rothschild (1844-1911).

1869 Alfred de Rothschild appointed a Director of the Bank of England Alfred de Rothschild (1842-1918) was the first Jew to be appointed a Director of the Bank of England. Alfred liked to move in diplomatic circles, and briefly became Senior Partner of the London house in 1915. (Above Alfred de Rothschild (1842-1918).

1869 Opening of the Evelina Hospital, London On Tuesday 15 June 1869, the Evelina Hospital for the Care of Sick Children was opened. The Hospital had been founded by Ferdinand de Rothschild (1839-1898), in memory of his wife Evelina (1839-1866), who had died tragically in childbirth. (Above Evelina de Rothschild (1839-1866).

1868 The sons of James de Rothschild succeed him in the Paris house After James' death, his sons, Alphonse (1827-1905), Gustave (1829-1911) and Edmond (1845-1934), assumed control of the business. The French House continued to fund and build railways, playing a major role in the development of the French and European rail network. (Above Mayer Alphonse de Rothschild (1827-1905).

1868 James de Rothschild acquires Château Lafite Baron James de Rothschild was a connoisseur of good wine and attracted by the prospect of acquiring a top Médoc estate as an investment. After thirty years of trying, he finally purchased Château Lafite in 1868 but died six months later, never having set foot on the property. (1971 Lafite wine label).

1863 C M de Rothschild e figli in Naples is closed Carl Rothschild died in 1855, leaving the business in the hands of his son Adolphe (1823-1900), whose two surviving brothers assumed responsibility of the Frankfurt office on the death of their childless uncle in the same year. The unification of the kingdoms of Italy in 1860 saw the diminution of influence of Naples, and the maintenance of a Rothschild house in the city was no longer viable and after forty years, the affairs of the Naples house were wound up. (Above A painting of the Villa Pignatelli alla Riviera di Chaia, Naples, residence of the Naples Rothschild family).

1860 First rebuilding of New Court Between 1860 and 1865 New Court was rebuilt in the style of a grand Italian ‘palazzo’ to the design of Thomas Marsh Nelson, reflecting the success and power of the business. The second New Court survived for almost exactly a century. (Above Plans of the second New Court. "New Court...seems to me quite marvellous, and intended for magnificent business” Charlotte, Baroness Lionel de Rothschild, 1865).

1858 Lionel de Rothschild takes his seat in Parliament as the first Jewish MP Lionel de Rothschild (1808-1879) was first elected as an MP for the City of London in 1847. As a Jew, he refused to take an oath, "in the true faith of a Christian" to enter the House of Commons. For eleven years his seat remained empty, until 1858 when the law changed so that MPs could choose between swearing on the Old or the New Testament. (Above Lionel Nathan de Rothschild introduced in the House of Commons on 26 July 1858 by Lord John Russell and Mr Abel Smith, by Henry Barraud).

1855 Mayer Carl and Wilhelm Carl von Rothschild become joint partners in the Frankfurt house On the death of Mayer Amschel Rothschild 1812, his eldest son, Amschel Mayer (1773-1855), took over the management the Frankfurt House. Amschel died childless, and the son of his brother Salomon, Anselm (1803-1874), and the sons of his brother Carl, Mayer Carl (1820-1866) and Wilhelm Carl (1828-1901) assumed responsibility for the business from 1855.