Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild was born in Paris, the son of banker Baron Anselm Salomon de Rothschild. He grew up in Germany and Austria and was very close to his mother, Charlotte, also a member of the Rothschild family, who had grown up on the family estate at Gunnersbury in England. She instilled an early interest in horticulture in the young Ferdinand.
In 1865 he married his cousin, Evelina, who died in childbirth the following year.
From 1874, Ferdinand began work on creating the house and gardens at his estate at Waddesdon in Buckinghamshire. He was a friend of the Prince of Wales, and advised on the design of the royal estate at Sandringham.
To learn more about him, please click here to go to the Historical Profile article: https://www.parksandgardens.org/explore/topics/176-historical-profiles/530-baron-ferdinand-de-rothschild-botanist-and-gardener