Louis Samuel Montagu, 2nd Baron Swaythling, was born on 10th December 1869, at 53 Cleveland Square, Hyde Park, London and he died on 11th June 1927 at 28 Kensington Court, London. He was the son of Samuel Montagu, 1st Baron Swaythling and Ellen Cohen. He married, on 9 February 1898, Gladys Helen Rachel Goldsmid.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Louis Samuel Montagu, 2nd Baron Swaythling was a prominent member of the British Jewish community, a financier, and a political activist.
He was educated at Clifton College, and later became head of the family banking business.
He opposed the Balfour Declaration. In 1917, along with Lionel Nathan de Rothschild, Sir Philip Magnus, and other prominent British Jews, he co-founded the anti-Zionist League of British Jews. He was president of the Federation of Synagogues until 1925.
In 1897 Townhill Farm was purchased for Louis by his father Samuel Montagu, who continued to live at South Stoneham House. In 1912 extensive further modifications were made to the building by the architect Leonard Rome Guthrie, who returned after the First World War to add the music room and a boudoir for Lady Swaythling. The gardens at Townhill Park were laid out by Gertrude Jekyll and were noted for their rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias.
Family
He was married to Gladys Helen Rachel Goldsmid (1879–1965), a member of both the Goldsmid and Rothschild banking families. Lady Swaythling was active in voluntary organisations, including the Electrical Association for Women and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. In World War I, she supported Belgian refugees and volunteered with the Wounded Allies’ Relief Committee.[8]
They had four children:
Stuart Albert Montagu, 3rd Baron Swaythling, and father of David Montagu, 4th Baron Swaythling.
Ewen Montagu, lawyer, judge, and naval officer.
Ivor Montagu, film maker.
Joyce Ida Jessie Montagu.
Liverpool Weekly Courier – Saturday 12 February 1898
FASHIONABLE WEDDINGS: MR. LOUIS SAMUEL MONTAGU AND MISS GLADYS GOLDSMID.
On Wednesday afternoon, at the Synagogue, St. Petersburgh-place: Bayswater, London, in the presence of a large and fashionable assembly, the wedding took place of Mr. Louis Samuel Montagu, eldest son of Sir Samuel Montagu, M.P. for the Whitechapel Division, and grandson of the late Mr. Louis Samuel, of Liverpool and London, and grandnephew of the late Sir Moses Montefiore, Bart. and Miss Gladys Goldsmid, elder daughter of Colonel A. E. W. Goldsmid, A. A.G. Thames district, and Mrs. Goldsmid, of The Bungalow, Fort Amherst, Chatham. The nuptial ceremony was very impressively conducted by the Rev. Simeon Singer and the Rev. J. L. Geffen. The ceremony took place under the roof of a wedding canopy, which consisted of the banner of the Chovevi Zion, on which was depicted the arms of the twelve tribes of Israel, a most beautiful work of embroidery, the exterior being covered with exquisite flowers arranged with great taste. The bride was attended by eight bridesmaids, the four elder—Miss Cannel Goldsmid (sister of the bride), Misses Marian, Lilian, and Elsie Samuel Montagu (sisters of the bridegroom) —being attired in dainty costumes of white corded silk over Maddeo glace and loose corsage, trimmed with Venetian lace embroidery, opening over an under bodice and skirt en tablier, sashed at the waist in becoming . fashion. A l’enfant under bodices and rucked sleeves of transparent Lisae completed a very uncommon and artistic gown. They also wore hats with prettily curved brims of folded black velvet, with gold embroidered crowns, finished with graceful cream plumes at side, and underneath the brim was placed chic rosettes of scarlet silk. The children bridesmaids—Miss Rita Mocatta, Miss Lydia Mocatta, Miss Madge Franklin, and Miss Rita Waley—were attired the two former in picturesque white corded silk gowns, tinged with madder made a la Swedoire, and embroidered with gold paillettea, and corsets of white silk muslin ; and the two latter in empire frocks in white corded silk, stiffened with madder, the bodices being honey worked with pearls, and silk sleeves opening over fulness of chiffon a la Francois premier. The two younger bridesmaids wore white felt bonnets tied with silk strings and a long white ostrich feather drooping gracefully on one side. The bridegroom’s presents to them were diamond and ruby bracelets, and nosegays of white blooms. ‘The bridegroom was attended by Mr. Dennis E. Samuel as best man, and the bride was accompanied by her father, who led her to the nuptial canopy, and in due course gave her away. The bride selected a wedding gown of Meissonier white satin en princess, daintily arranged with pearls in front, the corsage being loosely folded and completed with a fichu of white mousseline, edged with Point d’Aleticon lace tied at the side, and hold with a large pearl ornament, and Manteau de Cour supported from left shoulder, falling In long and graceful folds with pearl embroidery and flounces at the side, with mousseline chiffon, and unique Brussels lace veil over a wreath of orange flowers. The only ornament was a necklace, of a single row of pearls, the gift of the bridegroom, and she carried a bridal bouquet of. rare exotics tied with white satin streamers. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Samuel Montagu left en route for the Continent, the going-away dress being of Orleans blue fine cloth and full cloth bodice, and hat of Charles I shape and lined with handsome jet trimmings.
Jewish World – Friday 11 February 1898
MONTAGU-GOLDSMID WEDDING.: DESCRIPTION OF THE CEREMONY.
GUESTS, DRESSES, AND PRESENTS.
ON Wednesday last the New West End Synagogue was crowded by a large and fashionable congregation which assembled to witness the marriage of Miss Gladys Goldsmid, daughter of Col. Goldsmid, A.A.G. of the Thames District, and Mrs. Goldsmid, to Mr. Lewis Samuel Montagu, son of Sir Samuel Montagu, Bart., and Lady Montagu.
The service was fully choral and was conducted by the Rev. S. Singer, assisted by the Rev. J. L. Geffen. The bridal party arrived punctually at a quarter past two, at which time the Synagogue was crowded in every part. The building itself was beautifully decorated. Wreaths of azaleas, tuber roses and ferns, encircled every pillar, and hung down from the galleries, while there was a lovely display of foliage around the altar. The customary welcoming hymn greeted the entrance of the bridal procession, which wended its way to the Chufia, covered, on this occasion, with the glittering banner of the Chovevi Zion Association, showing the standards of the twelve tribes surrounding the Tabernacle. The bride wore a handsome gown of Meissonier white satin, made “en princesse,” daintily pearl embroidered in front; corsage, loosely folded, completed with a fichu of white mousseline, edged with point d’Alencon lace; manteau de Cour embroidered with pearls, and flounced with Mousseline chiffon. The bride wore a single row of pearls, the gift of the bridegroom. She was escorted by her eight bridesmaids Miss Carmel Goldsmid, sister of the bride; the Misses Marian, Lilian, and Elsie Montagu, sisters of the bridegroom; Miss Rita Mocatta, daughter of Mrs. Brynmor-Jones ; Miss Lydia Mocatta, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elkin Mocatta; Miss Madge Franklin and Miss Evelyn Waley, nieces of the bridegroom. The first four-named bridesmaids wore dainty costumes of white corded silk over madder glace, trimmed with Venetian lace embroidery, opening over an underbodice and skirt “entablier ” sashed to the waist; underbodices and rucked sleeves of transparent lisse completed artistic gowns. The Misses Mocatta were attired in picturesque white corded silk gowns, faintly tinted with madder, made “a la Suedoise,” and embroidered with gold Saillettes and corslets of white silk muslin. The two youngest bridesmaids, the Misses Franklin and Waley, wore similar frocks, made a l’Empire, and the bodices of their frocks were honeycombed with pearls, while the silk sleeves opened over a fulness of chiffon. The bridesmaids wore diamond and ruby bracelets, the gift of the bridegroom. Their white felt bonnets tied with silk strings, and surmounted by ostrich feathers, were extremely picturesque. Mrs. Albert E. Goldsmid looked handsome in a beautiful gown of Tourterelle moire antique and renaissance brocade, made with a skirt and tunic; the latter was edged with rose de Japon velvet, and opened over a corsage of beautiful hand-loom brocade in tones of pink and green on a mastique satin ground. The bride was given away by her father, and Mr. Dennis E. Samuel acted as the bridegroom’s best man.
The Rev. S. Singer said (as the happy couple stood before him for the celebration of the nuptial tie), that Providence had endowed them both with many precious gifts by which men set great store. He prayed that God would grant a greater blessing than all, a blessed wedded life. He prayed that God would teach them to find in their new life the supreme happiness of conferring happiness on others. Let them be thankful that their lot was cast in this happy island, where religious liberty was granted to all. Let them both strive to unite in their new life all that was noblest in the character of the Jew and the Briton, and together be a power for God. Might they in the years to come be grateful to the Almighty when they looked back upon that day.” The marriage register was witnessed by, among others, Sir William Harcourt, M.P. At the conclusion of the ceremony the bridal party and their friends proceeded to 3, Kensington Palace Gardens, W., the residence of Mrs. Edwin Samuel, at which was held the reception, which was enlivened by the playing (by kind permission of Major Abercrombie), of the pipers of the 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers.
Hampshire Independent – Saturday 27 July 1912
Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer – Monday 13 June 1927
LORD SWAYTHLING DEAD: HEAD OF GREAT BANKING FIRM
WORK ON INTERNATIONAL
MONEY EXCHANGE.
Lord Swaythling, whose death took place on Saturday, was senior partner of the well-known firm of bankers and bullion brokers, Messrs. Samuel Montagu and Co. He was born on December 10, 1869, and succeeded his father, the first Baron Swaythling, in 1911. He was married in 1898 to daughter of the late Col. A. E. Goldsmid, and had two sons and one daughter. He is succeeded by his eldest son, the Hon. Stuart Albert Montagu.
Lord Swaythling, though he was best known in society, perhaps, as hospitable keeper of an open house, was one of the richest men living. His reputation as financier was world-wide, and though he seldom spoke on public affairs, he was universally regarded as a tower of strength council. At the end of the war he drew up plans for solving the problem of rates exchange on the lines of an international moratorium, and in this and other ways his services and those of his bank were of great value to the State.
During the war Lord Swaythling was chairman of the Wounded Allies’ Relief Committee, and undertook an immense amount of patriotic work in connection with this and other organisations. He received several decorations for his services, including the Orders of the Crown of Belgium and Romania, the Order of St. Sava of Serbia, and the Order of the Sacred Treasure of Japan. He was keen student of all things Japanese, and, like Lady Swaythling, spoke the difficult language with considerable fluency. Lady Swaythling also devoted herself with tireless energy to war work. Lord Swaythling was the first Jew to inherit a peerage—the barony was created in 1907—from his father. He had been President of the Federation of Synagogues and President of the Dispersion Committee. “as staunch and orthodox adherent of the Jewish faith, and his benefactions and activities its behalf were legion.”
The family’s country seat is at Townhill Park, in Southampton. Lord Swaythling was at one time President the Hampshire County Cricket Club The firm of “Montagu’s,” one of the most respected houses in the City, was founded in 1853, and a quarter century ago it would have been exaggeration to say that it possessed almost a monopoly of the foreign exchange business of the City of London. To-day, the position has changed, though ” Montagu’s” is no less important than before. It still deals in millions, especially the bullion market, on which side of its business it was able to render such practical assistance to the Government during the war. ” Montagu’s,” in fact, is just one of those typical City houses continually undertaking vast responsibilities the world over with quiet dignity and unfailing rectitude, but without publicity.
LORD SWAYTHLING. Death in London This Morning. The Press Association regrets to announce the death of Lord Swaythling, which took place at his London home, Kensington Court, about eight o’clock this morning. He had been ill for several weeks. Lord Swaythling was in his 58th year, and was the second Baron, having succeeded his father in 1911. He was the head of the banking firm of Samuel Montagu and Co. He married Gladys Helen Rachel, daughter of Colonel A. E. Goldsmid, who survives him. He is succeeded in the title the Hon. Stuart Albert Samuel Montagu, and the other children of the marriage are two sons and a daughter
Death of the 2nd Lord Swaythling in the Birmingham Post 13 June 1927
The Times, January 9, 1965:
