Mayer Amschel Rothschild is a German Jewish banker who founded the famous Rothschild banking dynasty. Commonly referred to as the “Founding Father of International Finance,” he founded a sprawling business that encompassed not only banking and finance, but other areas such as real estate, mining and wine making. In 2005, Forbes came out with a list of "twenty most influential businessmen of all time", in which Mayer Amschel Rothschild took seventh place.
At the end of the 19th century, the Rothschild family possessed the largest private capital in the world. The Rothschilds are also some of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the world today. The Rothschild dynasty originated in the city of Frankfurt, which was a major trade center in the 18th century, with many bankers and wholesalers. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, in addition to owning the largest banks in the world, Mayer's descendants were also involved in mining, energy, real estate and winemaking. Nowadays, there is a "conspiracy theory" that the family has strong connections with all the leaders of the world, and they work together to control the economy through the dominance of manufacturing, finance and the arms trade.
Childhood and youth
Mayer Amschel Rothschild was born on February 23, 1744 in the free city of Frankfurt, which was then part of the Holy Roman Empire. His parents were Amschel Moses Rothschild and Shonsch Rothschild, and he was one of their eight children.
His father was a businessman and was involved in trade and currency exchange. In the year Mayer was born, his father became the personal purveyor of coins to the Prince of Hesse.
Mayer Rothschild began his career in the world of finance as a student of Jacob Oppenheimer, who was responsible for a banking firm owned by Simon Oppenheimer in Hanover in 1757.
Jacob, who was the grandson of Simon Wolfe, gave Mayer Rothschild an extensive knowledge of the banking system in general. Rothschild also received a first-class education in foreign trade and currency exchange. After his studies, Rothschild returned home to Frankfurt in 1763 and began working in the family business.
Mayer began to deal with rare coins and thanks to this won the praise and patronage of Crown Prince William of Hesse.
As the Rothschild family business continued to grow. When the French Revolution took place, the Rothschilds were responsible for processing payments to Britain to pay for mercenaries.
The beginning of the 19th century proved to be even more profitable for the Rothschild family, they began to expand their business throughout Europe. After Napoleon's invasion of Hesse in 1806, many small princely states were destroyed, but Mayer Rothschild was given permission to continue his banking business.
Personal life
Mayer Amschel Rothschild married Guttle Schnapper in August 1770. She was the daughter of Salomon Schnapper. The husband and wife raised five sons and five daughters. Mayer gave knowledge and skills to each of his sons as heirs to his business, teaching them all the important tricks of trade and banking.
He married all his daughters to Jews who held high positions. In addition, he instructed each of his sons to repeat their success in Frankfurt in five different cities across Europe. At that time, these cities were financial centers and centers of the world economy in the colonial world. His sons founded banks and businesses in London, Naples, France, Austria and Poland.
In the 19th century, the Rothschild banking family became the most powerful and wealthy in Europe. They controlled foreign exchange operations to such an extent that they could dictate terms to any of the European governments if they wanted to.
Mayer Rothschild died on September 19, 1812 in Frankfurt am Main. His body was buried in the old Jewish cemetery in Frankfurt.
His sons and grandchildren continued his legacy by expanding the family business from Europe to continents. By the end of the 19th century, they had a significant impact on the economies of America, England, Germany, Spain, France, Italy and Austria, which at that time were the leading colonial powers in the world.
