Sir James Goldsmith, Financier, Dies at 64 (Published 1997) (2024)

Sir James Goldsmith, a flamboyant British-French financier who maintained three families, homes in four countries and used his billions to fight the European Union, died Friday in Spain, a spokesman said. He was 64.

Sir James, who had battled pancreatic cancer for four years, died of a heart attack at his house in Spain, the spokesman said today.

Sir James made his fortune as a highly successful corporate raider before turning to politics. He formed his own Referendum Party in Britain with the single mission of combatting further European integration while maintaining a seat from France in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Although his party polled over 800,000 votes in the British elections in May, it did not win a single seat in the House of Commons.