Jonathan Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere

The Viscount Rothermere
Born	3 December 1967
Nationality	British
Education	Gordonstoun School
Alma mater	Duke University
Occupation	Publisher
Net worth	$1.37 billion (November 2015)[1]
Title	Viscount Rothermere Baron Rothermere Baronet of Horsey
Spouse(s)	Claudia Caroline Clemence
Children	Vere Richard Jonathan Harold Harmsworth (b. 1994) Eleanor Patricia Margaret Harmsworth (b. 1996) Theodora Harmsworth (b. 2001) Iris Harmsworth (b. 2003) Alfred Harmsworth (b. 2010)
Parent(s)	Vere, Viscount Rothermere and Patricia Evelyn Beverley Matthews

Harold Jonathan Esmond Vere Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere (born 3 December 1967) is a British viscount and inheritor of a newspaper and media empire founded by his great-grandfather Harold Sidney Harmsworth.

Early life

Rothermere was educated at Gordonstoun School and Duke University.^[2]

Career

Harmsworth held various positions in Associated Newspapers and was managing director of the Evening Standard, when the sudden death of his father in 1998 resulted in his becoming the controlling shareholder^[3] and chairman of Associated and of its parent Daily Mail and General Trust just before his 31st birthday. One notable change he has instituted since becoming chairman is requiring directors to retire at age 75.

He ranked fourth in the Publishing, Advertising, and PR section of the Sunday Times Rich List 2013 with an estimated wealth of £720 million.^[4] In April 2015, the Sunday Times estimated his net worth at £1 billion^[5] He has non-domicile tax status and owns his media businesses through a complex structure of offshore holdings and trusts.^[6]

He is a supporter of the Conservative Party leader David Cameron.^[7]

He gave evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into the Culture, Practices and Ethics of the Press on 10 May 2012.

Personal life

Rothermere married Claudia Caroline Clemence, daughter of Terence J. Clemence, on 15 July 1993.^[2] They have five children:^[8]

• The Honourable Vere Richard Jonathan Harold Harmsworth (b. 1994)
• The Honourable Eleanor Patricia Margaret Harmsworth (b. 1996)
• The Honourable Theodora Mairi Ferne Harmsworth (b. 2001)
• The Honourable Iris Geraldine Lilian Harmsworth (b. 2004)
• The Honourable Alfred Northcilffe St. John Harmsworth (b. 2010)

In 2002, The Guardian reported that Rotheremere had fathered another son from a relationship prior to his marriage.^[9] Testimony from the Leveson Inquiry seems to confirm this.^[10]

Ancestry

Ancestors of Jonathan Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere

16. Alfred Harmsworth               8. Harold Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Rothermere                       17. Geraldine Mary Maffett               4. Esmond Harmsworth, 2nd Viscount Rothermere                             18. George Wade Share               9. Mary Lilian Share                       19. Mary Isaac Greenwood               2. Vere Harmsworth, 3rd Viscount Rothermere                                   20.               10. William Lancelot Redhead                       21.               5. Margaret Hunam Redhead                             22.               11. Jane Gorham                       23.               1. Jonathan Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere                                         24.               12.                       25.               6. John William Matthews                             26.               13.                       27.               3. Patricia Evelyn Beverly Matthews                                   28.               14.                       29.               7.                             30.               15.                       31.

Arms

Arms of Jonathan Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere

Coronet A Coronet of a Viscount Crest Between two Ostrich Feathers Or a Cubit Arm erect proper the hand grasping a Roll of Paper Or Escutcheon Azure two Scrolls of Paper in saltire Or banded in the centre Gules between four Bees volant of the second Supporters On either side a Gladiator fully habited and accoutred the dexter holding in the exterior hand a Sword and the sinister holding on the exterior arm a Shield all proper each charged on the breast with a Fountain Motto Bene Qui Sedulo (He who acts diligently acts well)

References

1. "Jonathan Harmsworth". Forbes. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
2. "Person Page 7348". Thepeerage.com. 7 May 2011. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
3. "Rothermere: 'DMGT remains committed to journalism'". Press Gazette. 21 January 2009.
4. Mark Sweney (19 April 2013). "Barclay brothers named richest media figures in UK with £2.3bn fortune". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
5. "Sunday Times Rich List". The Sunday Times (page 34). 26 April 2014.
6. Private Eye. "Rothermere’s patriot games". Archived from the original on 21 October 2013.
7. Vervier, Catherine (20 July 2008). "The end of the affair: Dacre moves towards Cameron". The Independent. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
8. http://www.thepeerage.com/p7348.htm#i73475
9. Roy Greenslade (22 July 2002). "Seconds out, round two". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
10. "Statement by Lord Justice Leveson". Retrieved 9 May 2014.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Viscount Harmsworth