Portal:London/Showcase biography/04 2009

Sir Edgar Speyer, 1st Baronet (7 September 1862 – 16 February 1932) was an American-born financier and philanthropist. He was a patron of the arts and as chiar of the Queen's Hall underwrote the promenade concerts between 1902 and 1914. He was a founding trustee of the Whitechapel Art Gallery. Speyer was also chair of an anglo-German bank; and of the Underground Electric Railways Company. This last company built the three deep underground railway lines that now form the Northern, Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines.

During the First World War he fell victim to anti-German sentiment in the British press. He retired to the States, relinquishing his many business interests. By 1921, an investigation accused him of 'trading with the enemy' - through his links with a German bank. He denied the charges, but his naturalisation was revoked and he was struck off the list of members of the Privy Council.


 * Please vote for the Showcase biograpghy
 * View showcase biography archive