Charles "Charlie" Hambro, Baron Hambro was a British merchant banker and political fundraiser. He served as the Chairman of Hambros Bank from 1972 till its merger with Société Générale in 1998. He was the senior honorary treasurer of the Conservative Party from 1993 to 1997.
Early life
Hambro was born on 24 July 1930. He was an heir to the Hambros Bank. His great-great-grandfather, Carl Joachim Hambro, was an immigrant to England from Denmark who founded the Hambros Bank in 1839. His father, Charles Jocelyn Hambro, was a merchant banker who was descended from Robert the Bruce. His mother, Pamela Cobbold, of the East Anglian brewing family, who also claimed royal descent via George Keppel, 3rd Earl of Albemarle, died when he was 21 months old. He grew up at Delcombe Manor in Dorset. After his mother's death, his stepmother became Dorothy Mackay, who was banker Marcus Wallenberg's ex-wife. During World War II, he was sent to live first with the Wallenbergs in Stockholm and later with the Morgans, another banking dynasty, in New York City. He returned to England in 1943. He was educated at Eton College, where he played on the cricket team. He then served in the Coldstream Guards for two years.
Career
Hambro started his career at the family business, Hambros Bank, in 1952. He was appointed managing director in 1957, Deputy chairman in 1965, and chairman in 1972. He was in charge through interesting but turbulent times, beginning with the stock market and property crash of 1973–74. Hambros was one of the leading banks called in by the Bank of England to launch the financial lifeboat which dealt with the collapse of the Slater Walker empire and generally saved the financial system from collapse. In 1998, Hambros Bank was acquired by Société Générale. It represents its private wealth management subsidiary, SG Private Banking. From 1987 to 1999, he served on the board of directors of the shipping and distribution group P&O. He also served on the Boards of the Guardian Royal Exchange Assurance and Taylor Woodrow.
Political activity
Hambro served as the senior honorary treasurer of the Conservative Party from 1993 to 1997. He was in charge of replenishing the £19 million overdraft. His efforts were rewarded with a life peerage, created 26 September 1994; he took the title Baron Hambro, of Dixton and Dumbleton in the County of Gloucestershire.
