Sir Peter Osborne, 17th Baronet

Sir Peter George Osborne, 17th Baronet (born 29 June 1943) is a British businessman, who co-founded the interior design firm Osborne & Little. He is the father of George Osborne, the Conservative politician and former Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Early life

Peter Osborne was born on 29 June 1943. He is the eldest son of Sir George Osborne, 16th Baronet, a decorated soldier during World War I, and Mary Horn. Osborne was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire, and received an MA from Christ Church, Oxford.^[1] He succeeded to the baronetcy, becoming the 17th Osborne baronet of Ballintaylor and Ballylemon, on 21 July 1960, upon the death of his father.

Career

In 1968, Osborne and his brother-in-law, Anthony Little, co-founded Osborne & Little, a successful manufacturer and retailer of upmarket wallpaper and fabrics, opening an initial showroom in Chelsea.^[2] In 2016, it was revealed that the firm had made £6 million in a 2004 property deal with a developer from the British Virgin Islands, a tax haven, and has not paid any corporation tax for seven years.^[3][4] Osborne's personal wealth, amassed through inheritance and his business career, has been the subject of controversy during his son's political career, especially after an interview with the Financial Times in which he discussed his "expensive tastes", such as the purchase of a £19,000 Italian desk.^[5][6]

Personal life

Osborne married Felicity Loxton-Peacock on 16 October 1968.^[1] They have four children:

• The Rt. Hon. George Gideon Oliver Osborne, MP, former Chancellor of the Exchequer (2010 - 2016) and heir apparent to the baronetcy (b. 23 May 1971)
• Benedict George Osborne (b. 25 July 1973)
• Adam Peter Osborne (b. 25 March 1976)
• Theo Grantley Osborne (b. 28 March 1985)

See also

• Osborne & Little
• Osborne baronets
• George Osborne

References