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Leonard Wolfson, Baron Wolfson
politician
- November 11, 1927
- May 20, 2010
- 82 years
About Leonard Wolfson, Baron Wolfson
Leonard Wolfson, Baron Wolfson, 82, British businessman, philanthropist and life peer.
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60 Seconds Life Story
Leonard Wolfson was a prominent British businessman, philanthropist, and life peer who left a lasting impact
Leonard Wolfson, Baron Wolfson
1927 – 2010
60 Seconds: Leonard Wolfson, Baron Wolfson's Life Story
A documentary overview of the life of British businessman, philanthropist, and peer, Leonard Wolfson.
Transcript
Leonard Wolfson was a prominent British businessman, philanthropist, and life peer who left a lasting impact on medicine and the arts. Born in 1927, he attended The King's School, Worcester, during the 1940s. He later rose to lead the major company GUS, building upon the legacy of his father, Sir Isaac Wolfson. In 1985, he was created a Life Peer as Baron Wolfson of Marylebone, serving as a member of the Conservative Party. His commitment to research was immense, evidenced by his roles as an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering. He chaired the Wolfson Foundation and served as a dedicated trustee for the Imperial War Museum. Leonard Wolfson passed away on May 20, 2010, at the age of 82, leaving behind a profound philanthropic legacy.
Play the illustrated life story above, or read the full biography on this page.
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Full Biography
|Leonard Gordon Wolfson, Baron Wolfson (11 November 1927 – 20 May 2010) was a British businessman, the former chairman of GUS, and son of GUS magnate Sir Isaac Wolfson, 1st Baronet. He is the father of Janet Wolfson de Botton.
He attended The King's School, Worcester, from 1942 to 1945. He married Ruth Sterling in 1949; they were married for 41 years and had four daughters. After they divorced, he married Estelle Jackson in 1991.
Having been knighted in 1977, he was created a Life Peer on 13 June 1985 with the title Baron Wolfson, of Marylebone in the City of Westminster. He was a member of the Conservative Party. On the death of his father in 1991, Lord Wolfson succeeded as 2nd Baronet (styled "of St Marylebone in the County of London"). He was granted a leave of absence from the House of Lords from 2008.
He was Chairman of the Wolfson Foundation. He was elected an Honorary Fellow of the British Academy in 1986, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society in 2005 and in 1997 he was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. He was also an Honorary Fellow of three Oxford colleges, Wolfson College (named after his father Isaac Wolfson), St Catherine's College, and Worcester College.
He died on 20 May 2010. Having no sons, his baronetcy became extinct upon his death.
Wolfson was a philanthropist, supporting many causes: he was president of the Jewish Welfare Board, and a trustee of the Imperial War Museum. The Lord Leonard and Lady Estelle Wolfson Foundation was set up in 2012, and continues to support scientific and medical research, education and the arts.
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Articles & News
- "Lord Wolfson obituary | Business | The Guardian"theguardian.com
- "Lord Wolfson"telegraph.co.uk
- Obituaries — Leonard Wolfson: Businessman and philanthropistindependent.co.uk
Reported coverage of Leonard Wolfson, Baron Wolfson; each link opens the original article on the publisher's own site.
Books & Media
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Wolfson%2C_Baron_Wolfson
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Leonard Wolfson, Baron Wolfson's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what year did Leonard Gordon Wolfson succeed as 2nd Baronet?
- A.2010
- B.1977
- C.1991correct
- D.1985
On the death of his father in 1991, Lord Wolfson succeeded as 2nd Baronet.
Source: peerage section
2.When did Leonard Gordon Wolfson, Baron Wolfson die?
- A.11 November 1927
- B.20 May 2010correct
- C.15 September 2008
- D.13 June 1985
Leonard Gordon Wolfson, Baron Wolfson died on 20 May 2010.
Source: opening paragraph
3.What was the birth date of Leonard Gordon Wolfson, Baron Wolfson?
- A.15 September 1925
- B.11 November 1927correct
- C.13 June 1985
- D.20 May 2010
Leonard Gordon Wolfson, Baron Wolfson was born on 11 November 1927.
Source: opening paragraph
4.Who was the father of Leonard Gordon Wolfson, Baron Wolfson?
- A.Estelle Jackson
- B.Sir Isaac Wolfsoncorrect
- C.Janet Wolfson
- D.Ruth Sterling
Leonard Gordon Wolfson, Baron Wolfson was the son of GUS magnate Sir Isaac Wolfson, 1st Baronet.
Source: opening paragraph
5.Which educational institution did Leonard Gordon Wolfson, Baron Wolfson attend from 1942 to 1945?
- A.St Catherine's College
- B.Oxford University
- C.The Imperial War Museum
- D.The King's School, Worcestercorrect
Leonard Gordon Wolfson, Baron Wolfson attended The King's School, Worcester, from 1942 to 1945.
Source: education section
6.How long was the marriage between Leonard Gordon Wolfson and Ruth Sterling?
- A.15 years
- B.50 years
- C.41 yearscorrect
- D.28 years
Leonard Gordon Wolfson and Ruth Sterling were married for 41 years.
Source: family life section
7.In what year did Leonard Gordon Wolfson marry Estelle Jackson?
- A.2010
- B.1991correct
- C.1985
- D.1949
After divorcing his first wife, Leonard Gordon Wolfson married Estelle Jackson in 1991.
Source: family life section
8.What title was granted to Leonard Gordon Wolfson on 13 June 1985?
- A.Chairman
- B.1st Baronet
- C.Knight Commander
- D.Life Peercorrect
Leonard Gordon Wolfson was created a Life Peer on 13 June 1985 with the title Baron Wolfson.
Source: peerage section
9.Which political party was Leonard Gordon Wolfson, Baron Wolfson a member of?
- A.Conservative Partycorrect
- B.Green Party
- C.Labour Party
- D.Liberal Democrats
Leonard Gordon Wolfson, Baron Wolfson was a member of the Conservative Party.
Source: political affiliation
10.What event occurred regarding Leonard Gordon Wolfson's peerage status in 2008?
- A.He retired permanently
- B.He was expelled
- C.He was promoted
- D.He was granted a leave of absencecorrect
Leonard Gordon Wolfson, Baron Wolfson was granted a leave of absence from the House of Lords from 2008.
Source: career section
11.In what year was Leonard Gordon Wolfson, Baron Wolfson elected an Honorary Fellow of the British Academy?
- A.1991
- B.1986correct
- C.2005
- D.1997
Leonard Gordon Wolfson was elected an Honorary Fellow of the British Academy in 1986.
Source: honorary fellowships section
12.Which of these Oxford colleges was Leonard Gordon Wolfson, Baron Wolfson an Honorary Fellow of?
- A.Exeter College
- B.Balliol College
- C.Worcester Collegecorrect
- D.Magdalen College
Leonard Gordon Wolfson was an Honorary Fellow of three Oxford colleges, including Worcester College.
Source: honorary fellowships section
13.What happened to the baronetcy of Leonard Gordon Wolfson, Baron Wolfson upon his death?
- A.It passed to his daughter
- B.It was inherited by his brother
- C.It became extinctcorrect
- D.It was dissolved by the Crown
Because Leonard Gordon Wolfson had no sons, his baronetcy became extinct upon his death.
Source: death and legacy section
14.What position did Leonard Gordon Wolfson, Baron Wolfson hold at the Jewish Welfare Board?
- A.Treasurer
- B.Presidentcorrect
- C.Secretary
- D.Trustee
Leonard Gordon Wolfson was the president of the Jewish Welfare Board.
Source: philanthropy section
15.Leonard Gordon Wolfson, Baron Wolfson served as a trustee for which institution?
- A.Imperial War Museumcorrect
- B.Science Museum
- C.British Museum
- D.National Gallery
Leonard Gordon Wolfson was a trustee of the Imperial War Museum.
Source: philanthropy section
16.In what year was The Lord Leonard and Lady Estelle Wolfson Foundation established?
- A.2011
- B.2010
- C.2013
- D.2012correct
The Lord Leonard and Lady Estelle Wolfson Foundation was set up in 2012.
Source: philanthropy section
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