Profile Text
NEW YORK-SEP 13: Murdoch (L) and wife Sarah Murdoch attend the “mother!” premiere at Radio City Music Hall on September 13, 2017 in New York City. Debby Wong /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Lachlan Keith Murdoch
Place of Birth: Merton, Surrey, England, U.K.
Date of Birth: 8 September, 1971
Ethnicity: Estonian (maternal grandfather), Scottish, English, 1/16th Irish
Lachlan Murdoch is a British-American businessperson and mass media owner. He is the executive chairman of Australian entertainment company Nova Entertainment, the chairman of U.S.-based media and publishing company News Corp, and the executive chairman and CEO of multinational mass media company Fox Corporation. He also founded Australian investment company Illyria Pty, Ltd.
He is the son of Australian-American media proprietor and entrepreneur Rupert Murdoch and of Scottish-Australian journalist and novelist Anna dePeyster (born Anna Maria Torv). He is a brother of media executives Elisabeth Murdoch and James Murdoch, and a half-brother of Prudence Murdoch, who also works in the industry. He is a first cousin of Australian actress Anna Torv . Lachlan was mostly raised in New York City, New York.
Lachlan is married to British-Australian model, actress, television presenter, and philathropist Sarah (O’Hare) Murdoch, with whom he has three children.
Lachlan’s paternal grandfather was Keith Arthur Murdoch (the son of The Rev. Patrick John Murdoch and Anne/Annie Shepherd Brown). Keith was born in Melbourne, Colony of Victoria, Australia, to Scottish parents. He began the family’s legacy in media, amassing significant holdings. The Rev. Patrick was a Presbyterian minister, and was born in Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, the son of The Rev. James Murdoch and Helen Garden. Anne was the daughter of The Rev. George Brown and May Smith Leith Shepherd.
Lachlan’s paternal grandmother was Elisabeth Joy Greene (the daughter of Rupert Greene and Marie Grace de Lancey Forth). Elisabeth was born in Victoria, Australia, and was a charity worker and philanthropist. Lachlan’s great-grandfather Rupert was the son of William Henry Greene, who was Irish, from Drogheda; and of Fanny Greene Covett/Govett, whose parents were English. Lachlan’s great-grandmother Marie was born at Dwaroon, Warrnambool, Victoria, the daughter of Robert “de Lancey” Forth and Anne Thomson Ware, whose own father was English and whose mother’s parents were Scottish.
Lachlan’s maternal grandfather was Jakob/Jacob Tõrv (the son of Jaan Tõrv and Anna Tõnisson). Jakob was born in Tõstamaa, Pärnumaa, Estonia, and was a merchant seaman. Jaan was the son of Taniel/Daniil Tõrv and Ann/Anna Köösel. Anna’s great-grandmother Anna was the daughter of Jakob Tõnisson and Anna Jürgens.
Lachlan’s maternal grandmother was named Sylvia Iris Bodfish (the daughter of Gladys Tapley Bodfish). Sylvia was born in London, England. Gladys was the daughter of Charles Bodfish and Ellen Perks.
Lachlan’s father Rupert is sometimes described on the internet, often on anti-Jewish web sites, as having Jewish heritage on his own mother’s side. This is not accurate.
Sources: Genealogies of Lachlan Murdoch – http://www.geni.com https://www.wikitree.com
Genealogy of Lachlan’s father – http://www.wargs.com