Simonds Family Genealogy & History

Robert Bruce Simonds Jr. is a renowned American film producer and entrepreneur, best known as the founder and chairman of STX Entertainment. With a career spanning over three decades, Simonds has produced or financed over 125 films, including hits like "Billy Madison," "The Wedding Singer," and "Cheaper by the Dozen," generating over $11 billion in global revenue. Under his leadership, STX Entertainment has become a major player in film, television, and digital media, with significant investments from TPG Growth and Hony Capital, elevating the company's valuation to $3.5 billion within four years.

Born in Phoenix in 1962, Robert Simonds Jr. is the son of Robert Bruce Simonds Sr., a businessman. He is an alumnus of Yale University, which laid the foundation for his illustrious career in entertainment.

Lieutenant-General Guy Granville Simonds (April 23, 1903 – May 15, 1974) was a prominent Canadian Army officer during World War II. Renowned for his leadership, he commanded the 1st Canadian Infantry Division in Sicily and Italy and led II Canadian Corps during the Battle of Normandy. His strategic prowess was further demonstrated as he temporarily commanded the First Canadian Army during the Battle of the Scheldt. Post-war, he was appointed Chief of the General Staff, heading the Canadian Army during the Korean War. His career, marked by rapid advancement, is a testament to his exceptional military acumen and leadership, earning accolades from historians like J. L. Granatstein.

Born in Ixworth, England, Simonds hailed from a distinguished military lineage; his great-grandfather served in the Honourable East India Company, and his grandfather was a major-general in the British Indian Army. His father, Cecil, was an officer in the Royal Regiment of Artillery. On his maternal side, his grandfather William Easton was a wealthy horse breeder. Simonds had three siblings, including Eric, a test pilot who died in 1937, and Cicely, who perished in a V-1 attack during World War II. The family's military and equestrian background deeply influenced Simonds' upbringing and career.

Gavin Turnbull Simonds, 1st Viscount Simonds, was a distinguished British judge and politician, serving as Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain. Born on November 28, 1881, in Reading, he held various prestigious roles including a Judge of the Chancery Division and a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. Notably, he was appointed a life peer as Baron Simonds and later became Viscount Simonds. Simonds played a pivotal role in the notable Shaw v DPP case, emphasizing the court's duty to uphold moral welfare. His career was marked by significant contributions to the British legal system, including his tenure as High Steward of Oxford University and the City of Winchester.

Gavin Simonds hailed from a prominent Berkshire family known for their brewing business, H & G Simonds Ltd. He was the son of Louis DeLuze Simonds and Mary Elizabeth Turnbull. His educational foundation was laid at Winchester College and New College, Oxford, leading to a successful legal and political career.

Ossian Cole Simonds, born on November 11, 1855, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was a pioneering American landscape designer who preferred the title 'landscape gardener.' Known for his work on Graceland Cemetery and his role in establishing the Prairie Style, Simonds was a founding member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and served as its president in 1913. His notable projects include the redesign of Chicago's Lincoln Park and the grounds of the Morton Arboretum. Simonds was recognized for his emphasis on naturalistic design and the use of native plants, contributing significantly to landscape architecture's evolution in America.