Hannah Primrose, Countess Of Rosebery

Hannah Primrose, Countess of Rosebery (née de Rothschild), was born on 27 July 1851 and died on 19 November 1890. She was the daughter of Baron Mayer de Rothschild and his wife Juliana Cohen. She inherited her father's fortune in 1874, making her the wealthiest woman in Britain at that time.

Hannah de Rothschild was born into the Rothschild banking family, a prominent European Jewish dynasty. Her grandfather, Baron Nathan Mayer Rothschild, founded N M Rothschild & Sons, the London branch of the Rothschild banking enterprise. By the mid-19th century, the Rothschilds considered themselves akin to European royalty, with extensive art collections and estates across England, Austria, France, and Germany. Their holdings included Mentmore, a notable country house in Buckinghamshire, and an affluent London residence at 107 Piccadilly.

Her father, Baron Meyer Amschel de Rothschild, married Juliana Cohen in 1850. Hannah was their only child and was often sheltered from poverty and hardship, with her childhood experiences largely confined to the family's luxurious estates and residences. She was educated mainly in music and singing, subjects in which she demonstrated talent. Her education was limited, as her parents prioritized her protection from sickness and poverty.

Hannah's family estate and wealth were substantial; upon her father's death in 1874, she inherited Mentmore, a large art collection, a London mansion, and investments totaling approximately two million pounds (£235 million in modern terms). With this inheritance, she became the wealthiest woman in Britain.

Her social life was initiated through introductions at Newmarket Racecourse, where she was first introduced to Archibald Primrose, the 5th Earl of Rosebery, by Lady Beaconsfield, the wife of Benjamin Disraeli, in 1876. Rosebery, born in 1847, was a Scottish aristocrat with an extensive landholding portfolio and a reputation as an intelligent and cultivated figure. Marriage between Hannah and Rosebery faced social obstacles rooted in prevalent antisemitic sentiments within the British upper class, despite the Rothschilds' close ties to royal and aristocratic circles.

Queen Victoria expressed reservations about elevating Jews to the peerage, and societal prejudices limited the social acceptance of Jews—and by extension, Rothschilds—within high society. Rosebery's mother was also opposed to the marriage due to religious differences. Nonetheless, the engagement was formally announced on 3 January 1878.

The Rothschild family traditionally married cousins to maintain their wealth, and Hannah herself had previously opposed marrying outside her faith in other instances. Despite these obstacles, her marriage to Rosebery was part of her ambitions to secure social standing and was considered a significant alliance at the time.

Following her marriage, Hannah de Rothschild became known as the Countess of Rosebery. She was active as a political hostess and a philanthropist, focusing her charitable work on public health and the welfare of working-class Jewish women in London's impoverished districts. Her involvement in these causes came alongside her support for her husband's political career.

Hannah Primrose died suddenly in 1890 at the age of 39.