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{{Short description|Son of John Benjamin Sainsbury (1906–2000)}}
{{peacock|date=April 2012}}
{{peacock|date=April 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Sir Robert Sainsbury
| name = Sir Robert Sainsbury
| image = Sirrobertsainsbury.jpg
| image = Sirrobertsainsbury.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1906|10|24|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1906|10|24|df=y}}
| birth_name = Robert James Sainsbury
| birth_name = Robert James Sainsbury
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2000|4|2|1906|10|24|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2000|4|2|1906|10|24|df=y}}
| education = [[Haileybury College]]
| education = [[Haileybury College]]
| alma_mater = [[Pembroke College, Cambridge]]
| alma_mater = [[Pembroke College, Cambridge]]
| spouse = {{Marriage|Lisa van den Bergh|3 March 1937}}
| spouse = {{Marriage|Lisa van den Bergh|3 March 1937}}
| relatives = [[Sainsbury family]]
| relatives = [[Sainsbury family]]
| children = 4, including [[David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville|David]]
| children = 4, including [[David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville|David]]
}}
}}
'''Sir Robert James Sainsbury'''<ref name=":0">{{London Gazette|issue=44326|date=10 June 1967|page=6270|supp=1}}</ref> (24 October 1906{{spaced ndash}}2 April 2000), was the son of [[John Benjamin Sainsbury]] (the eldest son of [[John James Sainsbury]]), the founder of [[Sainsbury's]] supermarkets and along with his wife Lisa began the collection of modern and [[tribal art]] housed at the [[Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts]] in [[Norwich]].
'''Sir Robert James Sainsbury'''<ref name=":0">{{London Gazette|issue=44326|date=10 June 1967|page=6270|supp=1}}</ref> (24 October 1906 – 2 April 2000), was the son of [[John Benjamin Sainsbury]] (the eldest son of [[John James Sainsbury]], the founder of [[Sainsbury's]] supermarkets). Along with his wife Lisa, they began the collection of modern and [[tribal art]] housed at the [[Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts]] in [[Norwich]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
Line 19: Line 20:


==Business career==
==Business career==
In 1930, he joined the family grocery business founded by his grandfather, and became joint president almost 40 years later.
In 1930, he joined the family grocery business founded by his grandfather and became joint president almost 40 years later.


Robert Sainsbury was an advocate of better conditions for the retail chain's employees. Pensions and sickness benefits for all staff came in 1935; overtime payments were introduced in 1941; and, from 1962, the five-day week was standard.
Robert Sainsbury was an advocate of better conditions for the retail chain's employees. Pensions and sickness benefits for all staff came in 1935; overtime payments were introduced in 1941; and in 1962 the five-day work week was standard.


Eight years after he joined the family firm, his father, John Benjamin Sainsbury, retired due to ill-health, and Robert Sainsbury and his elder brother [[Alan Sainsbury]] became joint general managers. While Alan Sainsbury took charge of trading matters, Robert Sainsbury specialised in administration, finance and personnel. It was a happy partnership, lasting more than 30 years.
Eight years after he joined the family firm, his father, John Benjamin Sainsbury, retired due to ill-health. Robert Sainsbury and his elder brother, [[Alan Sainsbury]], became joint general managers. While Alan Sainsbury took charge of trading matters, Robert Sainsbury specialized in administration, finance, and personnel. It was a happy partnership that lasted more than 30 years.


The [[Second World War]] broke out a year after Robert Sainsbury's promotion, and there were rationed supplies at the 250 Sainsbury's shops.
The [[Second World War]] broke out a year after Robert Sainsbury's promotion and they rationed supplies at the 250 Sainsbury's shops.


Robert Sainsbury was a strong supporter of the [[Beveridge Report]], which cradled the welfare state into being. By the end of the war, Robert Sainsbury had cut the long hours which under-18s had necessarily put in - with men conscripted and women on war work.
Robert Sainsbury was a strong supporter of the [[Beveridge Report]], which cradled the welfare state into being. By the end of the war, Robert Sainsbury had cut the long hours in which staff was under with men conscripted and women on war work.


The 1950s brought self-service supermarkets. Over the period of his joint general management, deputy chairpersonship and chairpersonship (he became deputy chairperson when his father died in 1956, and succeeded his brother as chairperson in 1967), the company's turnover increased from £45m to £166m, and the number of employees rose fourfold.
The 1950s brought self-service supermarkets. Over the period of his joint general management approach which introduced deputy chairpersonship and chairpersonship positions (he became deputy chairperson when his father died in 1956, and succeeded his brother as chairperson in 1967), the company's turnover increased from £45m to £166m and the number of employees rose fourfold.


By the time he retired as chairperson in 1969, Robert Sainsbury had been a principal architect of the supergrocer's fortunes, which ensured its continuing success through to the beginning of the 1990s.
By the time he retired as chairperson in 1969, Robert Sainsbury had been a principal architect of the supergrocer's fortunes, which ensured its continuing success until the beginning of the 1990s.


==Charitable works==
==Charitable works==
Sainsbury was as an art collector and benefactor who gave his collection to the [[University of East Anglia]]. He was granted a knighthood in 1967 for services to the arts.<ref name=":0" />
Sainsbury was as an art collector and benefactor who gave his collection to the [[University of East Anglia]]. He was granted a knighthood in 1967 for his services to the arts.<ref name=":0" />


In 1973, Robert Sainsbury made a gift to the [[University of East Anglia]] of several hundred paintings, drawings and sculptures from around the world, which he had bought over the decades. Designed by the architect [[Norman Foster (architect)|Norman Foster]], and with an endowment of £3m from Sainsbury's son [[David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville|David]], the [[Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts]], built to house the works, opened in spring 1978.
In 1973, Robert Sainsbury made a gift to the [[University of East Anglia]] of several hundred paintings along with drawings and sculptures from around the world. Designed by the architect [[Norman Foster (architect)|Norman Foster]] and with an endowment of £3m from Sainsbury's son [[David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville|David]], the [[Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts]], was built to house the works and opened in spring 1978.


== Marriage and family ==
== Marriage and family ==
Line 42: Line 43:


* Elizabeth (19 July 1938 – 14 August 1977)
* Elizabeth (19 July 1938 – 14 August 1977)
* [[David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville]] (24 October 1940)
* [[David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville]] (born 24 October 1940)
* Celia (b. 1945)
* Celia (born 1945)
* [[Annabel Sainsbury|Annabel]] (b. 1948), married Peter Kanabus, with two children
* [[Annabel Sainsbury|Annabel]] (born 1948), married Peter Kanabus, with two children


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 19:14, 20 June 2024

Sir Robert Sainsbury
Born
Robert James Sainsbury

(1906-10-24)24 October 1906
Died2 April 2000(2000-04-02) (aged 93)
BildungHaileybury College
Alma materPembroke College, Cambridge
Spouse
Lisa van den Bergh
​
(m. 1937)​
Children4, including David
RelativesSainsbury family

Sir Robert James Sainsbury[1] (24 October 1906 – 2 April 2000), was the son of John Benjamin Sainsbury (the eldest son of John James Sainsbury, the founder of Sainsbury's supermarkets). Along with his wife Lisa, they began the collection of modern and tribal art housed at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich.

Early life

Robert Sainsbury was educated at Haileybury College and Pembroke College, Cambridge, before qualifying as an accountant.[2]

Business career

In 1930, he joined the family grocery business founded by his grandfather and became joint president almost 40 years later.

Robert Sainsbury was an advocate of better conditions for the retail chain's employees. Pensions and sickness benefits for all staff came in 1935; overtime payments were introduced in 1941; and in 1962 the five-day work week was standard.

Eight years after he joined the family firm, his father, John Benjamin Sainsbury, retired due to ill-health. Robert Sainsbury and his elder brother, Alan Sainsbury, became joint general managers. While Alan Sainsbury took charge of trading matters, Robert Sainsbury specialized in administration, finance, and personnel. It was a happy partnership that lasted more than 30 years.

The Second World War broke out a year after Robert Sainsbury's promotion and they rationed supplies at the 250 Sainsbury's shops.

Robert Sainsbury was a strong supporter of the Beveridge Report, which cradled the welfare state into being. By the end of the war, Robert Sainsbury had cut the long hours in which staff was under with men conscripted and women on war work.

The 1950s brought self-service supermarkets. Over the period of his joint general management approach which introduced deputy chairpersonship and chairpersonship positions (he became deputy chairperson when his father died in 1956, and succeeded his brother as chairperson in 1967), the company's turnover increased from £45m to £166m and the number of employees rose fourfold.

By the time he retired as chairperson in 1969, Robert Sainsbury had been a principal architect of the supergrocer's fortunes, which ensured its continuing success until the beginning of the 1990s.

Charitable works

Sainsbury was as an art collector and benefactor who gave his collection to the University of East Anglia. He was granted a knighthood in 1967 for his services to the arts.[1]

In 1973, Robert Sainsbury made a gift to the University of East Anglia of several hundred paintings along with drawings and sculptures from around the world. Designed by the architect Norman Foster and with an endowment of £3m from Sainsbury's son David, the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, was built to house the works and opened in spring 1978.

Marriage and family

In 1937, Sainsbury married Lisa van den Bergh (3 March 1912 – 6 February 2014), daughter of Professor Simon van den Bergh and Sonia Pokrojski.[3] They had four children:

References

  1. ^ a b "No. 44326". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 10 June 1967. p. 6270.
  2. ^ SAINSBURY, Sir Robert (James)’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2007
  3. ^ Telegraph: Lady Sainsbury - obituary
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