Henry Tiarks
 Henry Tiarks  (financier) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | September 1900 |
| Died | 1995 (Age 94) Marbella, Spain |
| Nationality | UK |
| Alma mater | Eton |
| Parents | Frank Tiarks |
Henry Tiarks was a British banker and scion the City of London Schroders merchant banking dynasty. He attended the 1958 Bilderberg meeting.
Background
Henry the third, and last, generation of one of the City of London's merchant banking dynasties. His grandfather, after whom he was named, became a partner of Schroders in 1871 and his father, Frank, in 1902. Both were prominent City figures, the latter a director of the Bank of England from 1912. In the Edwardian era, under the thrusting leadership of Frank Tiarks and Baron Bruno Schroder, their firm became London's leading merchant bank.[1]
Henry's birth in 1900 was soon followed by that of Helmut Schroder, Baron Bruno's son, and they travelled through life together. After Eton they were groomed for the partnership, working overseas with a series of friendly firms. Thereby they acquired a fluent command of French, German and Spanish and a good grasp of the workings of Wall Street. On 1 January 1926 they joined the company.[1]
Of German descent himself, like his wife, Frank Tiarks was also listed as a member of the Anglo-German Fellowship and the British Union of Fascists[2].
Victor Perlo writes, in The Empire of High Finance: "The Hitler government made the London Schroder Bank their financial agent in Britain and America. Hitler's personal banking account was with J.M. Stein Bankhaus, the German subsidiary of the Schroder Bank. F.C. Tiarks of the British J. Henry Schroder Company was a member of the Anglo-German Fellowship with two other partners as members, and a corporate membership."[3]
Career
Working on both the banking and corporate finance sides of the business, he was regarded as one of the brightest young merchant bankers in the City of London and was invited to become a director of the Midland Bank.[1]
His pattern of life changed abruptly in the early 1930s. The German financial crisis of the summer of 1931 destroyed much of Schroders' business and impoverished the partners. For Tiarks there was also the personal misfortune of a disastrous first marriage. But in 1936 he married Joan Barry, a popular West End actress, who brought him great happiness and to whom he was devoted. Their daughter, Henrietta, married the heir to the Duke of Bedford, a match of which Tiarks was very proud.[1]
Having joined the Auxiliary Air Reserve in 1937, Tiarks was immediately called up on the outbreak of the Second World War. He was given the rank of Wing Commander and put in charge of flying barrage balloons. A keen amateur scientist, he devised several significant improvements in flying techniques, which he regarded as some of his most creative achievements.[1]
After World War 2
Returning to Schroders towards the end of the war, he applied himself to rebuilding the business and was Helmut Schroder's principal partner in the late 1940s. The firm's post-war revival was constrained by post-war controls and the outstanding German debts, which were not recovered until 1952-54. New York offered much more exciting opportunities and in these years Tiarks often visited Schroders' Wall Street firm.[1]
From the early 1950s his role in the firm was non-executive - entertaining clients, serving as a director on the boards of companies with which Schroders had close ties, for instance Pressed Steel and Joseph Lucas, and representing it on public bodies such as the Dollar Export Council, which promoted British exports to North and South America.[4] His enthusiasm, good nature, extensive social connections and numerous interests and pastimes - golf and astronomy merit special mention - made him an excellent ambassador for the firm. In 1965, with Schroders once again at the forefront of the merchant banks, he and Helmut Schroder retired simultaneously.[1]
Event Participated in
| Event | Start | End | Location(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilderberg/1958 | 13 September 1958 | 15 September 1958 | Buxton UK | The 7th Bilderberg and the first one in the UK. 72 guests |
References
- ↑ a b c d e f g https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituaries-henry-tiarks-1590102.html
- ↑ https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/hitlers-black-book/person/1171/frank-c-tiarks
- ↑ Quoted in: https://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=read&author=mullins&book=secrets&story=hitler
- ↑ http://www.kemnal-road.org.uk/Pages/People/HenryTiarksJnr.html
