Lord Jacob Rothschild, British financier, philanthropist and friend of Israel, dies at 87

British financier and member of the famous Rothschild banking dynasty, Jacob Rothschild, has passed away at the age of 87.

"The Rothschild Foundation and Waddesdon Manor are deeply saddened to announce the death of Lord Rothschild, businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist and cultural leader. He will be greatly missed by his family, his colleagues and his many friends.," the family statement posted on social media reads.

According to reports in British media, Lord Rothschild will be buried in accordance with Jewish custom in a small family ceremony, and there will be a memorial at a later date to celebrate his life.

The British peer started his career in the family bank, NM Rothschild & Sons, in 1963. He later co-founded J Rothschild Assurance Group, now known as St James's Place, in 1991. In 2002, he was awarded the Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth II.

Jacob Rothschild promoted the project of building the National Library of Israel in Jerusalem, which recently opened its doors to the public. As Chairman of Yad Hanadiv, the Rothschild family's charitable organization set up for the benefit of all inhabitants of Israel, Lord Rothschild funded the construction of the Supreme Court building in Jerusalem. Jacob Rothschild was also the driving force behind constructing the Open University campus in Ra'anana.