1932day.year
Edgar Speyer
(1862 - 1932)
American-English financier and philanthropist
American-English financier and philanthropist
American-English financier and arts patron who supported major cultural institutions and progressive social causes in early 20th century Britain.
Born in New York in 1862, Speyer built his fortune banking in London with Speyer & Co. He was a generous patron of the arts, underwriting the founding of The Proms and supporting composers like Edward Elgar. His philanthropy extended to hospitals, suffrage movements, and war relief during World War I. Anti-German sentiment forced him to resign from public life despite his contributions. He spent his final years in self-imposed exile and died in 1932, leaving a legacy of cultural patronage.
Edgar Speyer