The Rothschild family were not only presidents, directors and shareholders in the Alliance over the generations: they were also policy holders. Ferdinand de Rothschild (1839-1898), the noted art collector who built Waddesdon Manor in the 1870s, insured his property with the Alliance, as did Alfred de Rothschild (1842-1918). The New Court premises of the bank were also insured with the Alliance by Lionel de Rothschild (1808-1879), Nathan’s son.
The firm of NM Rothschild & Sons worked with the Alliance Assurance Company in many ways. It was rumoured to be the first Lord Rothschild, Chairman of the Alliance and universally noted for his caution as a businessman and banker, who was instrumental in persuading the company to refuse to insure the Titanic, claiming it was ‘too big to float’.
Members of the Rothschild family on the Boards of The Alliance and Sun Alliance Assurance Companies
Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777-1836)
President 1824-1836
Lionel de Rothschild (1808-1879)
Director 1836-1879
Anthony de Rothschild (1810-1876)
Director 1842-1876
Nathaniel Mayer, 1st Lord Rothschild (1840-1915)
Auditor 1872-1876
Director 1876-1885
Chairman 1885-1915
Charles Rothschild (1877-1923)
Director 1905-1915
Chairman 1915-1920
President 1920-1923
Lionel de Rothschild (1882-1942)
Director 1924-1930
Chairman 1931-1942
Anthony de Rothschild (1887-1961)
Director 1942-1948 and 1956-1958
Chairman 1949-1956
Edmund de Rothschild (1916-2009)
Director 1956-1982
Leopold de Rothschild (1927-2012)
Director 1982-1995
Amschel Rothschild (1955-1996)
Director 1995-1996