British-American financier and philanthropist (1862–1932)
Sir Edgar Speyer
Bt
Sir Edgar Speyer by Sir William Orpen, 1914
Born
(1862-09-07)7 September 1862
New York City, New York, United States
Died
16 February 1932(1932-02-16) (aged 69)
Berlin, Germany
Nationality
American, British (revoked)
Occupation(s)
Banker and philanthropist
Spouse
Leonora von Stosch
(m. 1902)
Children
3
Chairman of Underground Electric Railways Company of London
In office 3 January 1906 – 18 May 1915
Preceded by
Charles Yerkes
Succeeded by
Lord George Hamilton
Sir Edgar Speyer, 1st Baronet (7 September 1862 – 16 February 1932) was an American-born financier and philanthropist.[1] He became a British subject in 1892 and was chairman of Speyer Brothers, the British branch of the Speyer family's international finance house, and a partner in the German and American branches. He was chairman of the Underground Electric Railways Company of London (UERL, a forerunner of the London Underground) from 1906 to 1915, a period during which the company opened three underground railway lines, electrified a fourth and took over two more.
Speyer was a supporter of the musical arts and a friend of several leading composers, including Edward Elgar, Richard Strauss and Claude Debussy. He was chairman of the Classical Music Society for ten years, and he largely funded the Promenade Concerts between 1902 and 1914. His non-musical charitable activities included being honorary treasurer of the fund for Captain Scott's Antarctic expedition. For his philanthropy he was made a baronet in 1906 and a Privy Counsellor in 1909.
After the start of the World War I, he became the subject of anti-German attacks in the Press. In 1915, Speyer offered to resign from the Privy Council and to relinquish his baronetcy, but the Prime Minister turned down the offer. He resigned as chairman of the UERL and went to the United States.
In 1921, the British government investigated accusations that Speyer had traded with the enemy during the war, and had participated in other wartime conduct incompatible with his status as a British subject. Speyer denied the charges, but his naturalisation was revoked and he was struck off the list of members of the Privy Council.
Sir EdgarSpeyer, 1st Baronet (7 September 1862 – 16 February 1932) was an American-born financier and philanthropist. He became a British subject in 1892...
& Co. The London branch of the Speyer business, Speyer Brothers, was liquidated in 1922, when Gustav´s son EdgarSpeyer left the United Kingdom for the...
1902. She then married banker EdgarSpeyer (later Sir Edgar), of London, where the couple lived until 1915. Sir Edgar had German ancestry and following...
Speyer (German: [ˈʃpaɪɐ] , older spelling Speier; Palatine German: Schbaija; French: Spire), historically known in English as Spires, is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate...
from 1908 until his death, marketing it using the Metro-land brand. EdgarSpeyer (1862–1932) Financial backer of Yerkes who served as UERL chairman from...
replaced as UERL chairman by EdgarSpeyer. Speyer was chairman of the UERL's backer Speyer Brothers and a partner in Speyer & Co. Sir George Gibb, general...
dog-driver] had a bad trip home I suppose." In a farewell letter to Sir EdgarSpeyer, dated March 16, Scott wondered whether he had overshot the meeting point...
Worcester Range. Discovered by the BrnAE (1901-04) and named for Sir EdgarSpeyer, a contributor to the expedition. 78°54′S 160°37′E / 78.900°S 160.617°E...
Lionel Lawson Faudel Faudel-Phillips, 3rd Baronet Speyer baronets of Grosvenor Street Sir EdgarSpeyer, 1st Baronet Sassoon baronets of Bombay Sir Jacob...
dropped unexpectedly to below −40 °C (−40 °F). In a farewell letter to Sir EdgarSpeyer, dated 16 March, Scott wondered whether he had overshot the meeting point...
2011, he was expelled from the Privy Council, the first expulsion since EdgarSpeyer in 1921, and thereby removing his right to use the honorific title The...
the banker EdgarSpeyer took over the expense of funding them. Wood received a knighthood in 1911. In 1914 anti-German feeling led Speyer to surrender...
was expelled from the Privy Council. It was the first expulsion since EdgarSpeyer in 1921. Morley was previously a Honorary Fellow of the Institution of...
Scott speculated, in a farewell letter to his expedition treasurer Sir EdgarSpeyer, that he had overshot the meeting point with the dog relief teams, writing...
company's chairman between 1915 and 1919, following the resignation of Sir EdgarSpeyer in 1915. Hamilton also held the honorary posts of Captain of Deal Castle...
his colleagues Carl Jung and Sándor Ferenczi. In February 1910, banker EdgarSpeyer, a Privy Counsellor appointed by Edward VII of the United Kingdom, arrived...
precedent; at the time, no Privy Counsellor had been expelled since Sir EdgarSpeyer was accused of collaborating with the Germans during the First World...
Grainger first met Edvard Grieg at the home of the London financier Sir EdgarSpeyer, in May 1906. As a student, Grainger had learned to appreciate the Norwegian's...
commerce. After Jonas's death his widow remarried, to William Clegg. EdgarSpeyer "Mr (formerly Sir) Joseph Jonas". The Yorkshire Post. Leeds, Yorkshire...
last time a Privy Counsellor's status was revoked was in 1921 when Sir EdgarSpeyer was accused of collaborating with the Germans during the First World...
Global Information