Sir Ernest Joseph Cassel, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, PC (3 March 1852 – 21 September 1921)[1] was a British merchant banker and businessman.

His father owned a small bank, but the son Ernest arrived penniless in Liverpool, England in 1869.

In 1912 his close German friend Albert Ballin feared that the naval rivalry between Britain and Germany was getting out of hand and even threatened war.

They approached their respective governments, who agreed to negotiate a compromise that would end the race through the Haldane Mission of 1912.

Cassel was married at Westminster, in 1878, to Annette Mary Maud Maxwell, the daughter of a Catholic landowner.

[7] Cassel's friendship with the King and achievements in international finance earned him many British and foreign honours.

[13] He was sworn a member of the Privy Council on 11 August 1902,[14] following an announcement of the King's intention to make this appointment in the 1902 Coronation Honours list published in June that year.

The hospital is a therapeutic community for the mentally ill, providing residential, day and outreach services, part of the NHS.

[7] Cassel's estate was valued at his death at £7,333,411 gross and £6,000,000 (equivalent to £336 million today[22]) for probate.