Lehman, Robert

Lehman, Robert

(1891–1969) banker, art collector; born in New York City (son of Philip Lehman). He studied at Yale (B.A. 1913), managed his father's art collection (1913–17), served in the army (1917–19), and joined the family banking business, Lehman Brothers (1919). He became principal partner (1921–64), and financed a variety of major enterprises, such as department stores, airlines, and movie and television companies. A generous art patron, he lived in New York City and Long Island. His art collection—strong in Gothic tapestries and European paintings among other works—was donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1969), where it is displayed in a replica of his New York apartment.