Schroder was a great-great-grandson of Johann Heinrich Schröder, who arrived in London from his native Hamburg, aged 17, in 1802. The Schröders were a prominent Lutheran merchant family and Johann Heinrich worked as a partner in his elder brother’s trading house before founding, in 1818, J Henry Schröder & Co – which made a name for itself in the Victorian City as a manager of bond issues for international borrowers, notably in Latin America, and branched into investment business in the early 20th century.
The Schröders became Prussian barons but were naturalised as British citizens (and shed their umlaut) during the First World War.
Bruno was the only son of Helmut Schroder (1901-69), an austere figure who led the firm for many years, and steered the acquisition in 1960 of the issuing house of Helbert Wagg to create a more broadly based merchant bank. The tall, softly spoken Bruno became a main board director aged 30 in 1963, after his father had suffered a stroke, but was never best suited to a financial career and within a few years he ceased to have an executive role.
Beyond his dynastic status in the City, Bruno Schroder was perhaps best known as the proprietor of the turreted late-Victorian mansion of Dunlossit, overlooking Port Askaig on the island of Islay. Dunlossit’s wild 18,000-acre domain – chiefly given over to stalking – had been acquired by Bruno’s father from the heirs of the Scottish shipowner Nathaniel Dunlop in 1937. Bruno and his sister Charmaine, together with the children of several of their parents’ friends and a large team of nannies, spend idyllic childhood years there during the early part of the Second World War.
Bruno Lionel Schroder was born in London on January 17 1933; his mother, Margaret, was the daughter of Colonel Sir Lionel Darell, 6th Bt. He was educated at Cothill House prep school and Eton, where he enjoyed rowing, and did National Service as a lieutenant in the Life Guards, serving in Germany before going to University College, Oxford, to read PPE and then to Harvard Business School to take an MBA. He joined the family bank in 1960, working as a junior manager in its banking and corporate finance divisions.
Bruno Schroder married, in 1969, Patricia “Piffa” Holt, whose father was an Irish-born soldier-diplomat. Piffa Schroder took up shooting as a pastime after their marriage and became a celebrity of the long-range rifle-shooting world, competing for Ireland, winning trophies at Bisley and achieving a world record 32 consecutive bullseyes in a match at Cambridge in 1982. She was the author of a number of books on shooting, including Cocks Only, a collection of her columns from the Shooting Gazette.
Bruno and Piffa Schroder had a daughter but separated in the 1980s. Piffa kept her own accommodation at Dunlossit, where she played host to shooting parties when Bruno was elsewhere. They eventually divorced, and he married Baroness Suzanne von Maltzahn, née Mourier, who survives him along with his daughter.
Bruno Schroder, born January 17 1933, died February 20 2019
Sorry for being late, but somehow I had missed this. Below is some genealogy from the German sources. Bruno Lionel von Schröder WAS descended from Heinrich, who was created Freiherr [Baron] in 1868, but only through Heinrich’s daughter Clara. Clara married a distant cousin, Johann Rudolf Schröder, and two of their sons were created Freiherren [Barons] in 1905 and 1904, respectively.
2.Johann Heinrich Schröder, 1868 Frhr von Schröder (Hamburg 8 Dec 1784-Hamburg 28 Jun 1883); m.Hamburg 26 Jan 1819 Henriette von Schwartz (Hamburg 7 Jun 1798-Hamburg 5 Jan 1889 [per 1891-1923 GGT; 5 Jan 1888, per 1890 Nekrolog]); naturalized as British subject 1864
2.1.Helene (Hamburg 27 Dec 1819-Altona-Ottensen 30 Nov 1909); m.Hamburg 13 Sep 1838 Bernhard Donner (d. Altona 27 Nov 1865), “a Danish privy councilor”
2.2.Henriette Franziska (5 Oct 1821-Hamburg 11 Feb 1902); m.4 Jun 1840 [4 Jun 1844, per 1903 GGT] Anton Schröder (d.Hamburg 12 Feb 1902 [10 Dec 1896, per 1903 GGT])
2.3.Eveline Sophie (26 Apr 1823-Itzehoe 26 May 1914); m.1st 23 May 1844 Bernhard Hinrich Schröder (d.Amsterdam 15 May 1849); m.2nd 30 Mar 1853 Charles-Pierre de Vos (d.30 Dec 1889)
2.4.Johann Heinrich Wilhelm [Sir John Henry William Schröder] (Hamburg 13 Feb 1825-“The Dell Windsor” 20 Apr 1910), cr Baronet 1892; m.London 19 Sep 1850 Dorothea Eveline Schlüßer (St.Petersburg 27 Mar 1828-London 5 Mar 1900 [per 1902 Nekrolog; 5 Dec 1900, per 1903-11 GGT])
2.5.Karl Heinrich (Othmarschen 4 Aug 1826-Wildungen 13 Jun 1909); m.Othmarschen 28 Jun 1851 Bertha Victoria Müller (St.Petersburg 24 Aug 1831-Hamburg 2 Dec 1905)
2.5.1.Johann Heinrich (Othmarschen 25 Apr 1852-1927); m.New York [San Francisco, per 1923 GGT] 28 Nov 1883 Mary-Ellen Donahue (16 Jan 1856-1925), dau of Peter Donahue, of San Francisco
2.5.1.1.Johann Heinrich (Hamburg 23 Feb 1885-1955); m.1923 (div 1950) Dorothea Frn von Schröder (1897-1986)
2.5.1.1.1.John Henry Bruno (1924-1992); m.1945 Joan Chapman (1921-1993); to UK
2.5.1.1.1.1.Johneen Christina Dorothea (1947-1948)
2.5.1.1.1.2.John Henry Richard (1949-2002); m.1982 Jessica van Hall (b.1949) à issue
2.5.1.1.1.3.Timothy Bruno, b.1953; m.1987 Ellen Charlotte Laskey (b.1957) à issue
2.5.1.2.Marion Jeannette Isabelle (San Francisco 12 Mar 1886- )
2.5.1.3.Editha Helene (San Francisco 22 Feb 1891-1927); m.1925 Paul Fritz Freytag (1878- )
2.5.2.Johann Heinrich Karl (Othmarschen 30 Jun 1854- )
2.5.3.Henriette Sophie Bertha Elisabeth (Hamburg 10 Feb 1856-Dessau 7 Nov 1913); m.Hamburg 5 Apr 1877 Fritz von Kracht
2.5.4.Johann Heinrich Frederick (Hamburg 10 Mar 1857-Berne 29 May 1903); m.Hamburg 30 Jan 1883 Harriet Milberg (Hamburg 6 Jan 1861-1934)
2.5.4.1.Johann Heinrich Friedrich (Hamburg 9 Jul 1884- ); m.1921 Elisabeth Andreae (1884-1936)
2.5.4.2.Wanda (27 Oct 1885-25 Apr 1886)
2.5.4.3.Johann Heinrich Hans (Hamburg 6 Nov 1887- )
2.5.4.4.Johann Heinrich Kurt Theodor (Hamburg 24 Nov 1889-1966); m.Köln 22 Apr 1913 Ottilie Maria Edith von Schnitzler (Köln 22 Jul 1892-1951)
2.5.4.4.1.Harriet Ottilie Edith Eveline (Bonn 27 Mar 1914- )
2.5.4.4.2.Charlotte Erika Editha (Bonn 22 Nov 1917- ); m.1940 Ferdinand Frhr von Lüdinghausen-Wolff (1910-1977)
2.5.4.4.3.Wanda Elisabeth Freda Anna-Maria (Bonn 16 Jan 1920-2016); m.1945 Tessen von Gerlach (1911- )
[?2.5.4.4.4.Johann Heinrich Kurt-Frederic (1900-1946)]
2.5.4.5.Johann Heinrich Karl Herbert (Hamburg 10 Feb 1894-1967); m.Köln 4 Jan 1921 Erika von Schnitzler (Köln 28 Nov 1900-1990)
2.5.4.5.1.Johann Heinrich Frederic Richard (Köln 8 Jan 1922-k.a.1943)
2.5.4.5.2.Johann Heinrich Carl (1924-2013); m.1st 1953 Erika Rieber (1929-1981); m.2nd 1986 Brigitte Wulff (1934- ); he adopted a son: Bernhard Carl Heinrich “Freiherr von Schröder”, b.1957,m.Katrin Hirschgänger (1962-2019), and had Carlos Karl, b.1995
2.5.4.5.3.Elisabeth Henriette (1928- ); m.1950 Otto Harald Siems (1921- )
2.5.4.6.Johann Heinrich Helmuth Adolph (Berne 20 Jul 1898-1964); m.1942 Betty von Tschammer u.Osten (1914- ) à issue
2.5.5.Franziska Eveline (21 Feb 1861-20 Aug 1901); m.Hamburg 21 Oct 1879 Carl Heinrich Johann Frhr von Merck
2.5.6.Johann Heinrich George (Hamburg 24 Feb 1867-1940); m.1st Köln 19 Nov 1904 Helene Deichmann (Köln 26 Sep 1872-Hamburg 6 Apr 1907); m.2nd 1 Aug 1912 Emily Merck, widowed Gfn von Unruh (Hamburg 9 Jan 1886-1966)
2.5.6.1.Bertha-Maria Christine Helene (Neuhaus 27 Apr 1906-1991); m.1938 Herbert Merck (1900- )
2.5.6.2.Johann Heinrich Georg Jasper (Neuhaus 31 Aug 1913- ); m.1949 Andreas von Klot-Heydenfeldt (1925- )
2.5.6.2.1.Bettina-Marei, b.1950; m.1977 Christian Schröder (b.1947)
2.5.6.2.2.Andreas Wolfgang, b.1953; m.1977 Gabriele von Wahl (b.1950) à issue
2.5.7.Johann Heinrich Alexander Adolf Moritz (Hamburg 3 Feb 1870-Berlin 17 Mar 1918); m.Hamburg 28 Dec 1901 Katharina Hatch, div. Cutter (New York 8 Feb 1873-Berlin 5 Mar 1918)
2.6.Clara Luise (Hamburg 9 Oct 1829-Othmarscen-Altona 18 Apr 1910); m.Hamburg 3 Oct 1849 Johann Rudolf Schröder (d.9 Apr 1887;)
1.Johann Rudolf, 1905 Frhr von Schröder (Hamburg 27 Jan 1852-1938); m.Erbistock Hall 14 Sep 1876 Harriet Ann Brancker (Erbistock Hall, No Wales 6 Aug 1853-1940)
1.1.Harriet Kate (Hamburg 27 Sep 1877-1931); m.Hamburg 6 Apr 1899 Eduard Eggers (1866- )
1.2.Johann Rudolph (Nienstedten 28 Sep 1878-1966); m.Köln 6 Apr 1907 Julinka Stein (Köln 5 May 1881-1953)
1.2.1.Johann Rudolph (Hamburg 1 May 1908-1982); m.1st 1938 (div 1951) Vera von Bonin (1916- ); m.2nd 1951 Karin-Blanka von Zitzewitz (1919- )
1.2.1.1.Harriet Anna Verena, b.1939; m.1965 László Hollán de Kislöd (1936- )
1.2.1.2.Sylvia Vera, b.1941; m.1st 1964 (div 1976) Helmold Frhr von Plessen (1935- ); m.2nd 1977 (div 1988) Ernst-Josef Pauw (1938- )
1.2.1.3.Angelika Julinka, b.1944; m.1st 1965 (div 1987) Andreas Gf von Dönhoff (1935-2007); m.2nd 1993 Hermann Gf von Dönhoff, adopt. Gf von Hatzfeld-Dönhoff (1941- )
1.2.1.4.Marina Blanca Catharina, b.1953; m.1st 1977 (div 1992) Miguel Spitzy (b.1948); m.2nd 1995 Franz Gf von Seilern u.Aspang (b.1955)
1.2.1.5.Johann Rudolph Christian Alexander, b.1956; m.1985 Sabine Schmitz (b.1955) à issue
1.2.2.Rudolph Manfred (Hamburg 11 Jun 1914-1996); m.1st 1939 (div 1948) Eleonore Renata Gfn von Pückler (1919-1997); m.2nd 1948 Benita von Samson-Himmelstjerna (1923- ) --> issue
1.2.3.Ingrid Julinka (Hamburg 24 Jun 1916-1991); m.1938 Manfred
Edler Hr u.Frhr von Plotho (1908-1987)
1.3.Rudolph Edgar (27 May 1884-d. in Lazarett Montmédy 28 May 1916 of wounds received in action)
1.4.Rudolph William (Nienstedten a.d.E. 26 Sep 1889- )
2.Ernst (1858-1936) à issue, Mecklenburg adelstand 1904
3.Rudolph Bruno, 1904 Frhr von Schröder (Hamburg 14 Mar 1867-1940); m.Köln 5 Apr 1894 Emma Deichmann (Köln 14 Mar 1870-1944); to UK
3.1.Rudolph Bruno (London 1894 [5 Jan 1895, per 1909-23 GGT]-k.a. Pofost, Russia 25 Sep 1915)
3.2.Helena Dorothea Eveline Emma (London 14 Mar 1897-1986); m.1923 (div 1950) Heinrich Frhr von Schröder (1885-1955)
3.3.Marga Marie Hilda (London 28 Oct 1898- )
3.4.Helmut William Bruno (London 18 Jan 1901-1969); m.1930 Margaret Darell (1904-1995), dau of Sir Lionel Darell, 6th Bt.
3.4.1.Bruno Lionel (1933-20 Feb 2019); m.1st 1969 Patricia Holt (b.1942);m.2nd Suzanne von Maltzahn, née Mourier, whose mother was a Reventlow --> issue
3.4.2.Charmaine Brenda, b.1935; m.1958 Georg-Wilhelm von Mallinckrodt
(1930-2021)
2.7.Henriette (6 Jan 1836-Hohenstein bei Eckernförde 19 Jul 1899); m.1st 24 May 1855 Theodor Heinrich Milberg (d.29 Oct 1868 [27 Oct 1868 , per 1873-1901 GGT and 1900 Nekrolog]); m.2nd 22 Mar 1879 Adolf Godeffroy [Goddefroy, per Burke’s] (d.Hamburg 13 Dec 1893)
2.8.Olga Sophie (Hamburg 9 Jun 1838- ); m.Hamburg 12 May 1858 [per most GGTs; 12 May 1848!, per 1903 GGT] Karl Leopold Marius Moritz von Abercron (d.Testorf 17 Nov 1913 [18 Nov 1913, per 1923 GGT])
2.9.Wilhelm Heinrich (Othmarschen 14 Aug 1841-The Rookery 11 Jan 1912); m.16 Oct 1866 Marie Horny (Odessa 12 Jun 1845 [22 Jun 1845, per 1895-1923 GGT]-1927); to UK; he received permission to use Baronial title in UK 1890
2.9.1.William Henry (Hartford Grange 25 Oct 1867-1945); m.Hopwood Hall 16 Jul 1896 Judith Gregge-Hopwood (Hopwood Hall 1875-1966), dau of Edward Robert Gregge-Hopwood, of Hopwood Hall
2.9.1.1.Margery (The Rookery 19 May 1897- ); m.1st Worleston 21 Dec 1920 (div 1931) Ralph Gore; m.2nd 1931 Sir George Earle (1890- )
2.9.1.2.John Henry William Charles, as heir to grandfather took surname 1919 “Hopwood” (The Rookery 28 Apr 1900-1977); m.1938 Catherine Graham Hutchison (1906- )
2.9.1.2.1.Philippa Margery Graham Hopwood, b.1943; m.1967 Richard Grenville Haslam, 1968 “Hopwood”
2.9.1.3.Daphne Victoria (1913- ); m.1st 1935 John Platt (k.a.1943); m.2nd 1943 John MacKenzie (1901-1955)
2.9.2.Irma Harriet (The Rookery 9 Sep 1874- ); m.Rookery 6 Jun 1899 Ernest Sinclair Pilkington (1870-1932)