Robin Herbert
Robin Arthur Eidyr Herbert (5 March 1934 – 12 January 2024) was an English banker and horticulturist who served as a president of the Royal Horticultural Society.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Herbert was born in London to Sir John Herbert, a Conservative MP and Governor of Bengal, and Lady Mary, who had connections to the British royal family.[2] Herbert inherited a substantial estate at a young age, which fostered his interest in gardening.[2]
Herbert was educated at Eton College, the University of Oxford, and Harvard Business School.[2][3]
In 1960, he married American Margaret Lewis and settled in Llanover, later inheriting another estate, Llanarth.[2][4]
Career
[edit]In 1963, Herbert began his banking career by investing in Leopold Joseph, a small London merchant bank, alongside partners such as Prince Rupert Loewenstein and Alexis de Redé.[3] Although initially holding a peripheral position, Herbert's role within the bank grew over time, and he eventually became chairman in 1978.[3] Under his leadership, the bank faced various challenges, including controversial clients and legal disputes, but emerged as a resilient private banking institution.[3] Herbert's tenure concluded with the sale of the bank to the Bank of Butterfield in 2004 for £51.5 million.[3] He also held positions at NatWest, Marks & Spencer, and the National Trust's committee for Wales.[2]
Despite not having formal botanical training, Herbert made major contributions to horticulture through his plant-hunting expeditions and the development of extensive arboreal collections on his estates.[2] In recognition of his dedication to the environment and horticulture, he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1994.[2]
In 2017, he was named in the Paradise Papers.[5]
Death
[edit]Herbert died on 12 January 2024, at the age of 89.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "In Memoriam: Robin Herbert CBE". Botanic Gardens Conservation International.
- ^ a b c d e f g Obituaries, Telegraph (18 February 2024). "Robin Herbert, banker and landowner who transformed the Royal Horticultural Society as president – obituary". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ a b c d e "Robin Herbert, horticulturalist and banker, 1934-2024". www.ft.com.
- ^ "Margaret Lewis Will Be Married To R.A.Herbert; Daughter of a NATO Aide to Be Bride of Oxford Graduate". The New York Times. 14 February 1960.
- ^ "HERBERT ROBIN ARTHUR ELIDYR | ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database". offshoreleaks.icij.org.