Founder of the Ardath Tobacco Company. Honorary Treasurer at the Royal Free Hospital in 1926. See Lord Riddell. Also helped fund the 1928 new extension for which the maternity section was named the Albert Levy Wing. The gives a résumé of his life.
Albert Levy was born on 9 July 1864 in Segeberg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, the younger child of Moses Martin David Levy (1821-1895) and Hannchen Levy née Heckscher (1829-1894). His elder sister was Sophie Levy (1862-1909).
On 6 January 1893 he swore an Oath of Allegiance to be faithful and bear true allegiance to HM Queen Victoria, Her Heirs & Successors to become a naturalized British subject. This could only be taken if he had resided in Great Britain for at least five of the previous eight years. He stated that he resided at 66 Sutherland Avenue, London and at 62 Leadenhall Street in the City of London. He described himself a cigar merchant. He was shown on the 1894 electoral registers at both these addresses, but by 1895 he was registered at both 68 Portsdown Road, Maida Vale and 62 Leadenhall Street. The 1898 registers list him at 2 Warrington Crescent, Maida Vale and 62 Leadenhall Street and in 1899 at 36 St Andrew's Square, Surbiton and 62 Leadenhall Street, whilst in 1900 at the De Vere Hotel, Kensington and 62 Leadenhall Street.
He married Gertrude Hennig (1871-1954) in the 1st quarter of 1900 in the Westminster registration district and they had three daughters: Hylda Muriel Levy (1901-1970), Vera Ruth Levy (1904-1993) & Esme Sophie Levy (1910-1988).
In the 1901 census he is shown as a tobacco manufacturer living at 12 Randolph Crescent, Maida Vale, with his wife, their daughter - Hylda, together with four domestic servants: a page, a housemaid, a cook & a monthly nurse. When he completed the 1911 census he described himself as tobacco manufacturer living in a 14 roomed property at 42 Hans Mansions, London, SW, with his wife, his three daughters, together with five female servants: a governess, a cook, a kitchen-maid, a parlour-maid and a house-maid.
Electoral registers from 1918 to 1921 show him still residing at 42 Hans Mansions, but he was also registered as a business voter for a property at 101 Pavillion Road, Notting Hill.
In the 1929 New Year Honours List, as the Treasurer of the Royal Free Hospital, he was created a Knight Bachelor, for benefactions.
Probate records confirm that he resided at both Westbrook House, Elstead, Surrey and at Devonshire House, Piccadilly, London, W1. It was at the latter address where he died, aged 73 years, on 5 September 1937 and on 7 September 1937 he was in the Golders Green Jewish Cemetery, Hoop Lane, London, NW11 1NL. Probate was granted on 29 September 1937 jointly to the Westminster Bank Ltd, to his widow and to his son-in-law - Sir Ewart Maurice Levy, baronet (1897-1990), who had married his eldest daughter Hylda. His effects totalled £1,134,866-12s-1d.
Photo credit: Royal Free Hospital.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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