Herbert Stern, 1st Baron Michelham

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Stern,_1st_Baron_Michelham

Herbert Stern, 1st Baron Michelham KCVO (28 September 1851-7 January 1919), known as Sir Herbert Stern, Bt, between July and December 1905, was a British financier and philanthropist.

Stern was the son of Hermann de Stern, a Portuguese baron and banker and the head of Stern Bros., of London, Paris and Belgium, and Julia Goldsmid.[1] He was the first cousin of Lord Wandsworth and Sir Edward Stern.

On his father's death Stern inherited the Portuguese barony and a fortune of £2million, which he substantially increased during his lifetime. He was a prominent philanthropist, and notably contributed to the National Gallery. During the First World War he acquired Hotel Astoria in Paris to be used as a hospital for British troops.[1] He was also involved in Thoroughbred horse racing and is known for having bred Plucky Liege, one of the most important broodmares of the 20th century.[2] Stern was created a Baronet, of Strawberry Hill in the Parish of Twickenham and County of Middlesex, in July 1905[3] and raised to the peerage as Baron Michelham, of Hellingley in the County of Sussex, in December of the same year.[4] Lord Michelham was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in 1912.[5]

Lord Michelham died in Paris in January 1919, aged 67, and was succeeded by his son, Herman.[1]