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'''Sir Dhunjibhoy Bomanji''' (1862 – 1 April 1937) was a [[British India]]n [[Parsi]] [[shipping magnate]], [[socialite]] and [[Philanthropy|philanthropist]].<ref name="times">{{cite news |title= Obituary: Sir Dhunjibhoy Bomanji – An Indian Patriot |work=[[The Times]] |date=2 April 1937 |page=14 }}</ref>

Bomanji was one of a wealthy family based in Bombay (now [[Mumbai]]), who eventually settled in [[England]], becoming a pillar of British society.
He divided his time between India and a house in [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]] and estate in [[Harrogate]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theduchyvixen.com/DV16.web.pdf|title=Pineheath: the Bombay Connection}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/b308e902-7a23-4514-b2a5-61612075a510|title=The Discovery Service|last=Archives|first=The National|website=discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk|access-date=30 May 2018}}</ref> Pineheath, the Bomanji's Harrogate house, was sold in 2013.<ref name="Cook 2013">{{cite news|url=https://www.harrogate-news.co.uk/2013/09/16/lady-bomanjis-opulent-family-home-acquired-multi-million-sale/|title=Lady Bomanji's opulent family home acquired in multi-million sale — Harrogate Informer|last=Cook|first=Tom|date=16 September 2013|work=Harrogate Observer|access-date=25 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325232148/https://www.harrogate-news.co.uk/2013/09/16/lady-bomanjis-opulent-family-home-acquired-multi-million-sale/|archive-date=25 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gettyimages.de/fotos/dhunjibhoy-bomanji?sort=mostpopular&mediatype=photography&phrase=dhunjibhoy%20bomanji|title=Dhunjibhoy Bomanji Stock-Fotos und Bilder {{!}} Getty Images|website=www.gettyimages.de|language=de|access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref>

== Family ==
His wife was the Lady Frainy Bomanji (14 September 1893 – 1986) <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C15136781|title=The Discovery Service|last=Archives|first=The National|website=discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk|access-date=28 May 2018}}</ref> also known as [[Lady]] Harrogate and his adopted daughter Mehroo, a niece of Lady Bomanji<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/bombaywallablog/posts/519006608261165|title=Bombaywalla|website=www.facebook.com|access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref> (died 12 July 2012).<ref name="Cook 2013" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/farewell-to-a-woman-who-gave-much-to-harrogate-1-4799663|title=Farewell to a woman who gave much to Harrogate|access-date=16 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/obituaries/mehroo-jehangir-1-4781994|title=Mehroo Jehangir|access-date=16 May 2018}}</ref> Lady Bomanji founded The Friends Of The Festival and was its president (1971-1973). <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.morphets.co.uk/18538/HARROGATE-FESTIVAL-1971-a-leather-bound-copy-of-the-Festival-programme-dedicated-to-Lady-Frainy-Bomanji-to-commemorate-her-presidency-1971-1973-and-her-founding-and-chairmanship-of-The-Friends-O?Itemid=&excl_keyword=&gridtype=listview&high_estimate=&ipp=All&keyword=&low_estimate=&name=&page_no=All&sort_by=lot_no&view=lot_detail&year=|title=LOT:43 {{!}} HARROGATE FESTIVAL 1971 - a leather bound copy of the Festiv|website=www.morphets.co.uk|access-date=21 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theduchyvixen.com/DV16.web.pdf|title=Pineheath: the Bombay Connection}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://harrogateinternationalfestivals.com/patrons-supporters/|title=PATRONS & SUPPORTERS|work=Harrogate International Festivals|access-date=28 May 2018}}</ref> Notable portrait painter [[Trevor Stubley]]'s portrait of Lady Bomanji is held by [[Sheffield City Museum|Sheffield City Art Gallery]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.therp.co.uk/pages/artists_cvs/stubley.asp?art=25|archive-url=https://archive.today/20020102131253/http://www.therp.co.uk/pages/artists_cvs/stubley.asp?art=25|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 January 2002|title=The Royal Society of Portrait Painters - Trevor Stubley, RP, RBA, RSW…|date=2 January 2002|work=archive.li|access-date=28 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.trevorstubleygallery.co.uk/profile.htm|title=Artist and Painter Trevor Stubley: Landscape paintings and commissioned portraits - Profile|last=Lester|first=Steve and Clare|website=www.trevorstubleygallery.co.uk|access-date=28 May 2018}}</ref>

== Philanthropy ==
Bomanji gave generously to charities which supported [[ex-servicemen]] and war widows following the [[First world war|First World War]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sloughhistoryonline.org.uk/asset_arena/image/original/sl/ol/sl-ol-slough_observer06111920195204-e-00-000.jpg|title=Slough Eton & Windsor Observer (Column 7)|date=6 November 1920}}</ref> and included [[Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig|Field Marshal Douglas Haig]] (1861–1928), [[Queen Victoria|Queen Victoria's]] granddaughter, [[Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone|Princess Alice]], Countess of Athlone amongst his social circle. He also kissed [[Greta Garbo|Greta Garbo's]] forehead after outbidding everyone for charity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sunday-guardian.com/investigation/uk-house-of-1920s-indian-perfectly-preserved|title=UK house of 1920s Indian perfectly preserved|website=www.sunday-guardian.com|access-date=2019-05-12}}</ref>

In 1892–93, he established Olympia Race Course in [[Matheran]], [[Maharashtra]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=The magic mountains : hill stations and the British raj|last=Keith.|first=Kennedy, Dane|date=1996|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=0585069875|location=Berkeley|pages=206|oclc=42922469}}</ref>

In 1906, he bought lease of 161 (formerly 61) [[Holland Park Avenue]] for [[Eugen Sandow]] (1867–1925), a [[Victorian era|Victorian]] strongman who was colossally famous in his day and possessed what was deemed to be the most perfect male body. This grand four-storey end-of-terrace house was named Dhunjibhoy House – was his home for 19 years. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/sandow-eugen-1867-1925|title=SANDOW, Eugen (1867-1925) {{!}} English Heritage|website=www.english-heritage.org.uk|access-date=7 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The perfect man : the muscular life and times of Eugen Sandow, Victorian strongman|last=1962-|first=Waller, David|year=2011|isbn=9781906469252|location=Brighton|pages=200|oclc=774635051}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/art-culture/eugen-sandow-fakir-of-physical-culture|title=Eugen Sandow: Fakir of Physical Culture|website=OPEN Magazine|access-date=7 June 2018}}</ref>

In 1922, he built a model of [[Rotten Row]], [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] on his estate in Windsor to provide work for 250 unemployed men. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sloughhistoryonline.org.uk/asset_arena/image/original/sl/ol/sl-ol-slough_observer16091922204804-e-00-000.jpg|title=Slough Eton & Windsor Observer (Column 6)}}</ref>

In 1923, he gave a statue of [[Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig|Field Marshal Douglas Haig]], by [[George Edward Wade]] to [[Edinburgh]] Corporation. It is now in [[Edinburgh Castle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/21244/relocation_of_earl_haig_statue|title=Relocating the statue of Earl Haig|format=PDF|publisher=The City of Edinburgh Council|date=23 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716191054/http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/21244/relocation_of_earl_haig_statue|archive-date=16 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Real Monuments Men |url=http://www.jonathan-walker.co.uk/the-real-monuments-men |access-date=1 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cfaW7pkoPioC&pg=PA7|title=Edinburgh: A Cultural and Literary History|last=Campbell|first=Donald|publisher=Signal Books|year=2003|isbn=9781902669731|page=7|access-date=25 March 2018}}</ref>

In 1929, [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]] House was purchased at 11 Russell Road, [[Kensington]] for £7500, with major donation of £6,000 from Sir Dhunjibhoy and Lady Frainy Bomanji. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fezana.org/fjissue/FEZANA_2011_04_Winter.pdf|title=FEZANA Journal|pages=62}}</ref>

== Death ==
He died in Bombay on 1 April 1937.

== Knighthood ==
He was [[Knight|knighted]] in [[1922 New Year Honours|1922]] after using his enormous wealth to support Britain’s fight against [[Germany]] during the First World War.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-40-room-yorkshire-home-frozen-in-time-eerie-abandoned-mansion-left-to-rot-for-three-decades-8821917.html|title=The 40-room Yorkshire home frozen in time: Eerie abandoned mansion|date=17 September 2013|work=The Independent|access-date=16 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aS2e4Xp392UC&pg=PA270|title=The Perfect Man: The Muscular Life and Times of Eugen Sandow, Victorian Strongman|last=Waller|first=David|publisher=Victorian Secrets|year=2011|isbn=9781906469252|pages=270 note 126|access-date=25 March 2018}}</ref>

== Commemoration ==
A French marble statue sculpted by [[Charles Raphael Peyre]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.harrogateinbloom.org.uk/new-tourist-guide|title=La Douche, BY CHARLES RAPHAEL PEYRE, FIRST QUARTER 20TH CENTURY|website=www.harrogateinbloom.org.uk|access-date=14 April 2020}}</ref> was erected in the public gardens on Montpellier Hill, [[Harrogate]] in honour of Mehroo Jehangir and Lady Frainy Bomanji. It was received by [[Councillor]] Mike Newby, [[Mayor]] of the [[Borough of Harrogate]].<ref name="harrogateadvertiser_1-479966">{{Cite news|url=https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/farewell-to-a-woman-who-gave-much-to-harrogate-1-4799663|title=Farewell to a woman who gave much to Harrogate|access-date=21 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="Cook 2014">{{Cite news|url=https://www.harrogate-news.co.uk/2014/03/26/harrogate-receives-bequest-statue-la-douche/|title=Harrogate receives bequest of statue 'La Douche' — Harrogate Informer|last=Cook|first=Tim|date=26 March 2014|work=Harrogate Informer|access-date=21 May 2018}}</ref>

The Pundol Group holds regular religious and social functions to commemorate Sir Dhunjibhoy Bomanji.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tenets.zoroastrianism.com/pundol33.html|title=THE PUNDOL GROUP: by Cyrus R. R. Cooper|website=tenets.zoroastrianism.com|access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bomanji, Dhunjibhoy}}
[[Category:Indian philanthropists]]
[[Category:Indian knights]]
[[Category:1862 births]]
[[Category:1937 deaths]]
[[Category:Parsi people]]
[[Category:Parsi people from Mumbai]]
[[Category:British people of Parsi descent]]
[[Category:British Zoroastrians]]
[[Category:Harrogate]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to England]]
[[Category:British philanthropists]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]

Dhunjibhoy Bomanji - Revision history

>Citation bot at 22:16, 5 May 2021