John Sainsbury was born in 1927, the eldest son of Alan Sainsbury (Baron Sainsbury of Drury Lane).
Educated at Stowe and Worcester College, Oxford, John Sainsbury joined Sainsbury’s in 1950, and served as Chairman and Chief Executive from 1969-92.
He was knighted in 1980 and made a life peer in 1989. He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1992.
He sits on the Conservative benches in the House of Lords, and has served on the Joint Scrutiny Committee on the Charities Bill.
He has been married to the former ballerina Anya Linden since 1963. He has a daughter and two sons.
John Sainsbury was one of three brothers who transformed the fortunes of Sainsbury’s. The second brother, Simon, a noted philanthropist, died in September 2006. The third brother, Sir Timothy, became a Conservative MP and Minister. Their cousin David Sainsbury sits on the Labour benches of the House of Lords as Lord Sainsbury of Turville.