The Japanese Imperial Order of the Sacred Treasure, 1st class, was conferred upon Mr Edmund de Rothschild by Emperor Hirohito in 1973. The citation for the Order, one of Japan’s highest honours, stated that it was given “in full recognition of your great contributions in the international monetary field to the economic and industrial development of Japan and the ceaseless endeavours you have devoted to the promotion of Japanese-British friendship”.
Edmund de Rothschild (1916-2009)
Edmund de Rothschild (affectionately known at New Court as ‘Mr Eddy’) was the great-grandson of Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777-1836) founder of the London banking house. After graduating from Cambridge in 1937, he embarked on a world tour. Joining the Royal Bucks Yeomanry on the outbreak of war, he became a Major in the Jewish Infantry Brigade. After the war, he began the task of rescuing from neglect the gardens of the family home, Exbury House.
He joined the family firm at New Court as a partner in 1947, serving as Senior Partner from the late 1950s and Chairman of N M Rothschild & Sons Limited from 1970-1975. In 1952 he led the bank’s involvement with the Churchill Falls power scheme in Labrador, Canada. Mr Eddy learnt Japanese in the 1960s and was a key member of a City of London delegation to Japan in 1962 to reopen commercial ties after the war. He maintained close links with Japan, visiting many times.
