Framed illuminated testimonial presented to Nathaniel, 1st Lord Rothschild (1840-1915) by the Hebrew congregation of Portsmouth, on the occasion of his elevation to the English Peerage in 1885.
Nathaniel Mayer ('Natty'), 1st Lord Rothschild
Nathaniel was the eldest son of Baron Lionel (1808-1879) and Charlotte (1819-1884). He studied at Cambridge, where he joined the circle of friends of the Prince of Wales. He married his cousin, Emma Louise (1844-1937) in Frankfurt in 1867.
Natty took over the senior partnership of the London House on the death of his father. Under his direction, the bank made many loans on behalf of Sovereign clients and for grand engineering projects. Natty served as an MP, and became the first Jewish peer in 1885, taking the title Lord Rothschild of Tring. A noted philanthropist, he asumed the role as lay head of Anglo-Jewry in England.
