Anthony Nathan (Billy) de Rothschild (1810-1876)
Anthony Nathan de Rothschild was born in New Court on 29 May 1810, and lived at 107 Piccadilly after his marriage to Louise Montefiore until in 1851 he acquired an estate at Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, an area soon endowed with public amenities for his tenants, including an infants school which he built as a sixteenth birthday present for his daughter Constance at her request.
After studying at the universities of Göttingen and Strasbourg, he served an apprenticeship to the family firm, spending time in both the Frankfurt and Paris houses, and became a partner in 1836. Anthony was closely involved in the management of the Chemin de fer du Nord, the family's main railway interest, and also responsible for the running of the Royal Mint Refinery in London from 1852 when Rothschilds acquired the lease.
In Buckinghamshire Anthony was a keen countryman and he became owner of a number of successful racehorses including Carnelion and Coomassie. His daughter, Constance, said he was of a naturally bright and cheerful disposition, ready to make the best of everything.
Anthony was active in the Jewish community, strongly supporting the Jews' Free School, and serving as presiding warden of the Great Synagogue, from 1855 to 1875. When the United Synagogue was formed late in 1870, Anthony became the first president. He was granted a baronetcy in 1847, which passed to his nephew Nathaniel Mayer on his death on 3 January 1876.
