PHILANTHROPIST’S DEATH

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 265, 5 August 1929, Page 11

PHILANTHROPIST’S DEATH

“ONE OF THE GREATEST OF THE CENTURY” MR. BERNHARD BARON (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, August 2. Mr. Bernhard Baron, the tobacco magnate, who died last night, is spoken of as one of the greatest philanthropists of the century. It is estimated that during his lifetime he devoted well over three-quarters of a million to the hospitals alone, and that in all charities benefited by his generosity to the extent of about £2,000,000. Mr. Baron was 78 years of age. He was born at Brest Litowsk in Russia, of Jewish parentage, and at the age of sixteen emigrated to America, where he started work in a tobacco factory. Cigarettes were just coming into vogue, and be proceeded to make them by hand and sell them to university students. The demand grew and Barou found himself unable to meet it. So he set to work to invent a machine whereby cigarettes could be made rapidly and efficiently. His business grew and it was with bis machine—out of which he made £l2o,ooo—that he came to England. He bought the tobacco business of Carreras for £150,000 and developed it, which is one of the greatest romances of modern commerce. He became a naturalised Englishman. Mr. Baron’s kindness and consideration towards all his employees was remarkable, and he was regarded by them with real affection. He had strong sympathies with the Labour movement, and contributed a considerable amount to its funds.