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Walter Horace SamuelBritish peer and former chairman of Shell Transport and Trading Company
Date of Birth: 13.03.1882
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Walter Horace Samuel, 2nd Viscount Bearsted: A Life of Distinction
- Business and Philanthropy
- Art Collecting and Patronage
- Personal Life and Legacy
Walter Horace Samuel, 2nd Viscount Bearsted: A Life of Distinction
Early Life and Military ServiceWalter Horace Samuel was born in London on March 13, 1882, the son of Marcus Samuel, 1st Viscount Bearsted. He received his education at Eton College and New College, Oxford. Initially pursuing a military career, he served in the Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry, rising to the rank of captain.
During the First World War (1914-1918), Samuel fought with distinction, earning the Military Cross and two Mentions in Dispatches. He later attained the rank of colonel in the Intelligence Corps during the Second World War.
Business and Philanthropy
In 1921, Samuel became the director of Shell Transport and Trading Company, the company founded by his father and uncle in 1897. He succeeded his father as its chairman in 1927, inheriting the titles of Viscount, Baron, and Baronet upon his father's death.
As a dedicated philanthropist, Samuel supported various Jewish charities, including the Bearsted Memorial Hospital and the Bearsted maternity home. He advocated for the emigration of Jews from Nazi Germany and the restoration of peace in Palestine.
Art Collecting and Patronage
Samuel was an avid art collector, inheriting his father's passion. He transformed Upton House in Warwickshire into a home for his extensive collection, which included works by Rembrandt, Canaletto, George Stubbs, and Hans Holbein the Younger. In 1948, he donated his house and collection to the National Trust.
As a member of the boards of trustees of the National Gallery and Tate Gallery, Samuel contributed significantly to the arts. He also supported the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and served as chairman of the Whitechapel Art Gallery in London.
Personal Life and Legacy
On July 23, 1908, Samuel married Dorothy Montefiore Micholls, who became Lady Bearsted. They had four children, three sons and a daughter who died in infancy. Walter Horace Samuel passed away on November 8, 1948, at the age of 66.
