Edouard Alphonse James de Rothschild (1868-1949)

Edouard Alphonse James de Rothschild was born in Paris on 24 February 1868, the third child and only son of Alphonse and Leonora de Rothschild. Surviving a youthful duel, which he fought to combat anti- Semitic insults, Edouard and his younger cousin, Robert, directed the affairs of the Paris House. He was a director of the Bank of France and was closely involved with the administration of the family's railway interests.

On 5 March 1905, Edouard married Germaine Alice Halphen and the couple lived on the rue Saint Florentin, Ferrières and Sans Souci. At Ferrières, he had a golf course constructed, while his stud farm at Meautry was one of the most successful in France. Edouard had inherited much of his father's art collection and he and Germaine were hosts to numerous artists and musicians at the rue Saint Florentin. Edouard was elegant and self-effacing. His kindliness towards his children was not in evidence at the bank, where he was highly-strung and frequently impatient.

Edouard and his family reached the safety of the USA in 1940. He returned to France after the war to piece together the bank's affairs, assemble his own art collections and to try to restore his stud to its former glory. He died on 30 June 1949.

See also Germaine Alice de Rothschild (née Halphen) »