Leonard Steinberg, Baron Steinberg

The Right Honourable
The Lord Steinberg
Personal details
Born
Leonard Steinberg

(1936-08-01)1 August 1936
Belfast, United Kingdom
Died2 November 2009(2009-11-02) (aged 73)
London, United Kingdom
Political partyUlster Unionist
Conservative
OccupationBusinessman

Leonard Steinberg, Baron Steinberg (1 August 1936 – 2 November 2009) was a British life peer and multi-millionaire businessman.[1]

Born in Belfast on 1 August 1936, he was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. Steinberg was the founder and Non-Executive chairman of Stanley Leisure.[2] The business was founded in Belfast in 1958, but Steinberg moved to Liverpool in 1977 when he refused to pay protection money to either republican or loyalist paramilitaries, and after he was shot on 23 February 1977 by the Provisional Irish Republican Army.[3][4] The Irish Times reported the next day that, "The attacks are believed to be part a campaign against leading figures in the North’s commercial life launched late last year by the Provisional IRA."[4] Despite his move to England, he continued to describe himself thus: "I am Jewish, Northern Irish, and an Ulster Unionist"[5]

Since 2005, Stanley Leisure has seen changes of ownership, with William Hill buying the bookmaking operations and the Genting Group buying the casino operation.[citation needed] Steinberg sold a large number of his shares in 2004, but retained 11.3% of the company's stake.[6] His personal fortune was estimated as being some £108 million in 2005.[6] He was also the founder and chairman of trustees of the Steinberg Family Charitable Trust.[2]

Steinberg, who then lived in Hale, was made a Conservative Party life peer on 23 June 2004 with the title Baron Steinberg, of Belfast in the County of Antrim,[7][6] and had made contributions to the Conservative Party.[8]

The Northern Ireland Friends of Israel group was launched with Steinberg as president in March 2009. He spoke of "the longstanding links which connect Northern Ireland and Israel" at that launch.[9]

Steinberg died in London on 2 November 2009 while travelling to attend a sitting of the House of Lords.[10] He was survived by his wife Beryl, two children and grandchildren.[11]

His wife, Lady Beryl Steinberg, died on 8 February 2022.

Arms

Coat of arms of Leonard Steinberg, Baron Steinberg
Adopted
2006
Coronet
Coronet of a Baron
Crest
Statant on two Horseshoes reversed Or a Cricket Gules
Escutcheon
Per pale Argent and Gules issuing in base three Pallets couped in fess each ensigned with a sinister Hand appaumy couped at the wrist each charged on the palm with a Roundel all counterchanged
Supporters
On either side a Horse Gules maned and tailed and supporting between the forelegs a Torah Or
Motto
QUAERERE VERUM
Badge
Within a Sun in splendour voided a Menorah Or enflamed Gules
Symbolism
Arms, Crest, Badge and Supporters allude to the Jewish faith, Northern Ireland, cricket and horse racing.

See also

References

  1. ^ Cracroft's Peerage Archived 20 May 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b Unlock Democracy website: Party Watch Archived 27 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine (accessed on 25 June 2007)
  3. ^ Sunday Independent, 27 May 2001
  4. ^ a b Irish Times, 24 February 1977
  5. ^ "Lord Steinberg of Belfast". The Daily Telegraph. 8 November 2009. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Manchester Evening News (accessed on 25 June 2007).
  7. ^ "No. 57340". The London Gazette. 29 June 2004. p. 8083.
  8. ^ Unlock Democracy website. Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine (accessed on 25 June 2007)
  9. ^ Belfast Telegraph 17 April 2009
  10. ^ "Gaming tycoon Baron Steinberg dies". The Business Desk. 3 November 2009.
  11. ^ "Belfast peer and betting millionaire dies aged 73". Belfasttelegraph.