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Ratanji Tata Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 1, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth20 January 1871

Age47 (at time of death)

BirthplaceBombay (now Mumbai)

ProfessionBusinessman, Philanthropist

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseNavajbai Sett

FamilyFather - Jamsetji Tata; Mother - Hirabai Daboo; Brother - Dorabji Tata; Adopted son - Naval Tata

Ratanji Tata Biography

Ratanji Tata (20 January 1871 – 5 September 1918) was an Indian businessman and philanthropist who helped expand the Tata family's commercial ventures and—

Early life and background

Ratanji Tata was born into the Parsi Tata family on 20 January 1871 in Bombay (now Mumbai). He was the second son of Jamsetji Tata and Hirabai Daboo. Raised in Bombay, he completed his education at St. Xavier’s College in the city before moving into a professional life connected to the family enterprises.

Career

Ratanji entered the family business when he became a partner in Tata & Sons in 1896. After his father’s death in 1904, he took charge of Tata & Co., a trading firm that handled commodities such as silk, cotton, yarn, rice and pearls. Under his oversight the trading concern maintained international branches in cities including New York, Rangoon, Shanghai, Paris and Kobe.

He also participated in the establishment and early operations of the Tata Iron and Steel project alongside his elder brother Dorabji Tata. The ironworks project, which formally began on 26 August 1907 as Tata Iron and Steel Company Limited (later Tata Steel Limited), was a major industrial initiative in which Ratanji played a supporting operational role.

Philanthropy and cultural interests

Though he led a comfortable life, Ratanji Tata was noted for sustained philanthropic engagement. He made significant and recurring donations to institutions in Britain and India. Among these was an annual gift of £1,400 to the University of London; his support for the London School of Economics included funding for its social science department in 1912, which carried his name for a period. He also contributed to archaeological work at Pataliputra between 1913 and 1917, a program that produced notable discoveries related to ancient Indian architecture.

His charitable giving extended to medical causes and disaster relief. He contributed annually to the King George V Anti-Tuberculosis League for a decade and funded a memorial project for the Salvation Army. In 1919, the Sir Ratan Tata Trust was established, creating a formal vehicle for continuing grant-making in areas such as education, health and social welfare.

Ratanji was also an art collector and connoisseur; toward the end of his life he donated his collection to the Prince of Wales Museum in Bombay, reflecting a commitment to public cultural institutions.

Personal life

In 1892 Ratanji Tata married Navajbai Sett, the daughter of Ardeshir Merwanji Sett. The couple spent several years living in England before returning to India. They did not have biological children; after Ratanji’s death, Navajbai adopted Naval Tata, who became the couple’s successor within the family.

Honours

In recognition of his services, Ratanji Tata was knighted in England in 1916.

Public profile

Ratanji Tata was remembered as an industrialist who combined business responsibilities with a pronounced interest in public welfare, education and cultural preservation. His philanthropic legacy included both direct donations and the founding of an enduring trust to support public causes.

Latest updates

Ratanji Tata traveled to England for medical treatment in 1915. He died at St Ives in Cornwall, England, on 5 September 1918. His wife later established an institute in his memory in 1926.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Ratanji Tata, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Career Highlights

  1. Partner at Tata & Sons (joined 1896)
  2. Headed Tata & Co. after 1904, overseeing international trading branches
  3. Assisted in establishing Tata Iron and Steel Company Limited (commenced 26 August 1907)
  4. Knighted in England in 1916 for services to humanity
  5. Established philanthropic legacy leading to the Sir Ratan Tata Trust (1919)
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ratanji Tata born?

Ratanji Tata was born on 20 January 1871.

What is Ratanji Tata known for?

Ratanji Tata is known for businessman, Philanthropist.

What is Ratanji Tata’s marital status?

Ratanji Tata's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Ratanji Tata married to?

Ratanji Tata is publicly listed as married to Navajbai Sett.