Baron Lionel Nathan de Rothschild (1808-1879) is famous for his campaign to become the first Jewish Member of Parliament, and the struggle for Jewish emancipation. Lionel finally took his seat in the House of Commons as an MP for the City of London in 1858. Read more about his campaign in our online exhibition From Bank to Westminster »
Many other members of the Rothschild family have served in Parliament. The Aylesbury seat was held by members of the family from 1865 when Nathaniel ('Natty') de Rothschild was returned unopposed for the Liberals. From 1886 he backed the Liberal Unionists. On his elevation to the peerage in 1885, his Commons' seat was taken by his brother-in-law, Ferdinand de Rothschild (1839-1898).
In the 1899 by-election caused by Ferdinand's death, Natty's son, the scientist and natural historian Lionel (Walter), 2nd Lord Rothschild (1868-1937) was elected as the Liberal and Liberal Unionist Member of Parliament for Aylesbury, serving until 1910. Find out more about Rothschilds in politics »
Over 50 years after Baron Lionel took his seat, his grandson, also called Lionel Nathan de Rothschild (1882-1942) was elected to the House, serving as Conservative MP for the Vale of Aylesbury from 1910 to 1923.
Lionel was educated at Harrow and Trinity College Cambridge before taking his place as a partner at New Court. In the First World War he served in the reserves as a major in the Buckinghamshire Yeomanry and managed the City of London's recruiting office, earning an OBE and a 'valuable services' mention. From 1918, Lionel developed his estate of Exbury in Hampshire, famous for its rhododendrons and azaleas, which became his life's passion.
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on Wednesday 15 November. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, (led by J. R. Clynes), and a divided Liberal Party.
The Archive has some examples of election literature produced in support of Lionel's successful parliamentary campaign in 1922, including a pledge card distrubuted during Lionel's campaign stating:
Mr. Lionel de Rothschild Prefers Politics to Personalities.
He stands for -
1. Tranquillity and Stability at Home and Abroad.
2. Peace in the Near East.
3. No more Foreign Commitments.
4. Expenditure to be reduced to Lowest Level.
5. Reorganisation of Machinery of Government.
6. Our Word our Bond in Irish Treaty.
7. Ulster Freedom to be safeguarded.
8. Conference on Empire Trade.
9. Agriculture to be helped out of difficulties.
10. Reduction of Taxation.Printed and Published by G.T Fraine & Co., Ltd., "Bucks Herald" Office, Aylesbury.
RAL reference: 000/2269
