Jonathan-Raphaël Bisschoffsheim
Encyclopedia
Jonathan-Raphaël Bischoffsheim (26 April 1808, Mainz
– 5 February 1883, Brussels
) was a Belgian
banker, businessman and philanthropist
. He descended from a wealthy Jewish family, and was endowed with an exceptional European network. On 11 June 1832, he married Henriette Goldschmidt in Brussels, and together they had four children: Claire (Clara) (1832–1899), Ferdinand Raphael (1837–?), Regine (1834–?), and Hortense Henriette (1843–1901).
, the regional tram
ways and managed the Communal Credit (Dutch Gemeentekrediet, French: Credit Communal) and the Caisse Generale d'Epargne et de Retraite (CGER or ASLK). Together with his brother he founded the bank which eventually developed into Paribas bank. From 1862 till 1883 he was also a Liberal member of the Belgian Parliament, and as such was influential in the development of the public education network.
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
– 5 February 1883, Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
) was a Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
banker, businessman and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. He descended from a wealthy Jewish family, and was endowed with an exceptional European network. On 11 June 1832, he married Henriette Goldschmidt in Brussels, and together they had four children: Claire (Clara) (1832–1899), Ferdinand Raphael (1837–?), Regine (1834–?), and Hortense Henriette (1843–1901).
Career
In 1827, he co-founded the bank of Bischoffsheim & Goldschmidt. He played an important role for the finances and the institutions during the early years of Belgian independence. Bisschoffsheim was a Director of the Banque de Belgique and was one of the founders of the National Bank of BelgiumNational Bank of Belgium
The National Bank of Belgium has been the central bank of Belgium since 1850...
, the regional tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
ways and managed the Communal Credit (Dutch Gemeentekrediet, French: Credit Communal) and the Caisse Generale d'Epargne et de Retraite (CGER or ASLK). Together with his brother he founded the bank which eventually developed into Paribas bank. From 1862 till 1883 he was also a Liberal member of the Belgian Parliament, and as such was influential in the development of the public education network.
Sources
- Youssef Cassis, Capitals of Capital, A History of International Financial Centres, 1780–2005, Université de Genève, ISBN 0521845351
- The jewish community of Belgium - Jewish figures of note
- From The Restauration To the Third Republic (Origins of Paribas)
- Meeuwissen, Eric. Richesse oblige. La Belle Epoque des Grandes Fortunes. Préface de Jean Stengers, Brussels, Editions Racine, 1999, p. 315-318.
- The Jewish Encyclopedia
- Cilli Kasper-Holtkotte, Im Westen neues: Migration und ihre Folgen: Deutsche Juden als Pioniere jüdischen Lebens in Belgien, 18./19. Jahrhundert, BRILL, 2003.