Wallenberg family

The Wallenberg family (known as The Wallenbergs or simply Wallenbergs) is a prominent Swedish family, renowned as bankers, industrialists, politicians, diplomats and philanthropists. The most famous of the Wallenbergs, Raoul Wallenberg, a diplomat, worked in Budapest, Hungary, during World War II to rescue Jews from the Holocaust. Between July and December 1944, he issued protective passports and housed Jews, saving tens of thousands of Jewish lives.

History

Oldest known ancestor of the Wallenberg family is Per Hansson (1670–1741), who in 1692 married Kerstin Jacobsdotter Schuut (1671-1752). Their son, Jakob Persson Wallberg (1699-1758) had two marriages. In his first marriage the children called themselves Wallberg, and in his second Wallenberg. Jakob Persson Wallberg (1699-1758) was the great-grandfather to André Oscar Wallenberg, who in 1856 founded the Stockholms Enskilda Bank, the predecessor of today's Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken.

André Oscar Wallenberg's son Knut Agathon Wallenberg took over as CEO of Stockholms Enskilda Bank in 1886. Like many other Wallenberg relatives, Knut Agathon Wallenberg was also involved in Swedish politics and diplomacy becoming Minister for Foreign Affairs 1914-1917, and member of the Riksdags first chamber (Parliament of Sweden) 1907-1919. In 1916, a new legislation made it more difficult for bank's to own shares in industrial companies on a long-term basis. Investor was formed as an investment part of Stockholms Enskilda Bank.

Knut Agathon Wallenberg's younger brother Marcus Wallenberg (senior) carried on the tradition and took over as the bank's CEO in 1911, replacing his older brother who was appointed Stockholms Enskilda Bank chairman of the board.

Jacob Wallenberg, eldest son of Marcus Wallenberg (senior), became the bank's CEO after Joseph Nachmanson died in 1927, joined by younger brother Marcus Wallenberg (junior) as the bank's deputy CEO. In 1938, Knut Agathon Wallenberg died (Knut Agathon Wallenberg had died childless). Marcus Wallenberg (senior) was appointed Stockholms Enskilda Bank chairman of the board.

The fourth generation of Wallenbergs joined the family business in 1953, including heir apparent Marc Wallenberg, eldest son of Marcus Wallenberg (junior), who became an deputy CEO at Stockholms Enskilda Bank in 1953, before taking over as CEO in 1958. After a power struggle between Jacob Wallenberg and his younger brother Marcus Wallenberg (junior), Jacob Wallenberg resigned from the board of directors in 1969.

The resignation opened a seat on the bank's board of directors to Peter Wallenberg (senior), younger son of Marcus Wallenberg (junior). Marcus Wallenberg (junior) pushed through a merger agreement between Stockholms Enskilda Bank and rival Skandinaviska Banken in 1971. Soon after, tragedy struck when Marc Wallenberg committed suicide, observers suggested that the act came possibly because Marc Wallenberg felt himself inadequate to the task of leading what was to become the Scandinavia banking giant Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken. The merger went through in 1972.

Marcus Wallenberg (junior), and younger son Peter Wallenberg (senior), focused their interests on the family's investment companies, Investor and Providentia. Investor now became the family's new flagship business, and, under Marcus Wallenberg (juniors) leadership began actively promoting the restructuring of most of the industrial companies under its control, replacing board members and promoting younger CEO and other management.

Peter Wallenberg (senior) took over after Marcus Wallenberg (juniors) death in 1982. For many outsiders, the change in leadership marked a final moment in the family's more than 100-year dominance of the Swedish banking and industrial sectors. Yet Peter Wallenberg (senior) rose to the challenge, guiding Investor and Sweden's industry into a new era. In 1990, it was estimated that the family indirectly controlled one-third of the Swedish Gross National Product. Peter Wallenberg (senior) stepped down from leadership of Investor in 1997.

In 2006, The fifth generation took over the Wallenberg sphere. Marcus Wallenberg, son of Marc Wallenberg, Jacob Wallenberg and Peter Wallenberg (junior) both sons of Peter Wallenberg (senior).

Notable family members

* Jacob Wallenberg (1746–1778), sailor, clergyman and author.
* Marcus Wallenberg (1774–1833), nephew of Jacob Wallenberg, bishop in Linköping.
* André Oscar Wallenberg (1816–1886), son of Marcus Wallenberg, naval officer, newspaper tycoon, banker and politician.
* Knut Agathon Wallenberg (1853–1938), son of André Oscar Wallenberg, banker and politician.
* Gustaf Wallenberg (1863–1937), son of André Oscar Wallenberg, diplomat.
* Marcus Wallenberg (senior) ("Häradshövdingen") (1864–1943), son of André Oscar Wallenberg, banker, industrialist and politician.
* Oscar Wallenberg (1872–1939), son of André Oscar Wallenberg, naval officer and businessman.
* Axel Wallenberg (1874–1963), son of André Oscar Wallenberg, industrialist and diplomat.
* Victor Wallenberg (1875–1970), son of André Oscar Wallenberg, sports shooter.
* Raoul Oscar Wallenberg (1888–1912), son of Gustaf Wallenberg, naval officer.
* Jacob Wallenberg ("Juju") (1892–1980), son of Marcus Wallenberg (senior), naval officer, banker, industrialist.
* Marcus Wallenberg (junior) ("Dodde") (1899–1982), son of Marcus Wallenberg (senior), banker and industrialist.
* Carol Wallenberg (1904–1985), son of Oscar Wallenberg, businessman.
* Gustaf Wally (1905–1966), son of Axel Wallenberg, dancer, actor and theatre manager.
* Henry Wallenberg (1908–1993), son of Victor Wallenberg, consul general in Monaco.
* Raoul Wallenberg (1912–c.1947), son of Raoul Oscar Wallenberg, diplomat.
* Marc Wallenberg ("Boy-Boy") (1924–1971), son of Marcus Wallenberg (junior), banker.
* Peter Wallenberg (senior) ("Pirre") (1926–), son of Marcus Wallenberg (junior), banker and industrialist. Current patriarch of the Wallenberg family.
* Peder Sager Wallenberg (1935–), son of Jacob Wallenberg, architect, businessman.
* Jacob Wallenberg (1956–), son of Peter Wallenberg (senior), banker and industrialist.
* Marcus Wallenberg ("Husky") (1956–), son of Marc Wallenberg, banker and industrialist.
* Axel Wallenberg ("Wawa") (1958–), son of Marc Wallenberg, businessman.
* Peter Wallenberg (junior) ("Poker") (1959–), son of Peter Wallenberg (senior), businessman.

Modern business

The Wallenbergs have a very low-key public profile, eschewing conspicuous displays of wealth. The family motto is "Esse non Videri" (Latin for, "To be, not to be seen"). Wallenbergs business empire is often called the Wallenberg sphere, the Wallenberg sphere is a large group of companies where their investment company Investor or foundation asset management company FAM have the controlling interest.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/

Thirteen Factories

Thirteen Factories (Chinese: 十三行; Jyutping: Sap6 Saam1 Hong2; Pinyin: Shísānháng) was an area of Canton (Guangzhou), China where the first foreign trade was allowed in the 18th century since hai jin ban on maritime activities. It is also referred to as the "Thirteen Hongs" or the "Canton Factories".

The site where the factories stood is now Wenhua Park, and Thirteen Hong Street, onto which the factories backed is now named Shishanhang Road

Terminology

Factories were "foreigners quarters" outside the city walls in Guangzhou. These were business markets, not actual factories where goods were manufactured. The name came from the foreign agent term of "factors", who maintained offices or factories. Chinese citizens often referred to the factories as "Barbarian Houses".

History

In 1684, the Emperor Kangxi of the Qing allowed foreigners to trade with China in four cities, including Guangzhou. In 1686, Westerners were allowed to also live in the area of the factories in Canton, at the head of the Pearl River. In 1757, the Emperor Qianlong limited Westerners to the port of Canton, and no other area.

In 1793, attempts were made by King George III who sent representative Lord George Macartney to request that ports in northern China be opened to trade. Emperor Qianlong denied the request.

The Thirteen Factories gradually lost importance after the First Opium War (1839-1842), a conflict after China banned the import of British opium. The Qing court was defeated by Great Britain and as a consequence of the Treaty of Nanking (1842), was forced to open five ports to foreigners and to cede Hong Kong to Great Britain. The Thirteen Factories was no longer the sole place for foreigners to trade and live in China. The factories burned down in 1856 during the Second Opium War and the western traders relocated to warehouses across the Pearl River on Honam until the British succeeded in claiming the site of a sandbar (Shamian Island) in 1859, and it was developed to become a foreign enclave.

The Hongs in Hong Kong that became major economic powerhouses beginning in the 1890s are usually credited to the British and other overseas merchants. Despite the origin of the name "Hong", the factories did not play a role in Hong Kong's economy in the 20th century..

From http://en.wikipedia.org/

Sabancı family

The Sabancı family is a dynasty of Turkish businesspeople founded by Hacı Ömer Sabancı, a self-made wealthy trader. Some second and third generation members of the family control today Turkey’s second largest and prestigious group of companies, established mostly by the efforts of his son Sakıp Sabancı. After the death of Sakıp Sabancı, also known as Sakip Aga, in 2004, the granddaughter of the founder, Güler Sabancı, is chosen to run the Sabancı Holding today.

* Hacı Ömer Sabancı (1906 Kayseri – 1966 İstanbul) married (1928) Sadıka Sabancı (1910–1988)
o İhsan Sabancı (1931 Kayseri – 1979) married (1953) Yüksel Tarcan
+ Güler Sabancı (1955 İstanbul) (f)
+ Ahmet Yakup Sabancı was married (1992–2000) to Selda Eralp
# İhsan Erol Sabancı (1993)
+ Nur Sabancı (f)
+ Illegitimate children from Nevin Tenik: Sevgi Sabancı (f), Murat Sabancı, Sevilay Sabancı (1966) (f)
o Sakıp Sabancı (1933 Kayseri – 2004 İstanbul) married (1957) Türkan Civelek
+ Dilek Sabancı (f) (1964)
+ Metin Sabancı (1970)
+ Sevil Sabancı (1973 İstanbul) (f) was married to Eran Tapan
# Melissa Sabancı (1993) (f)
o Hacı Sabancı (1935 Kayseri – 1998 İstanbul) married (1959) Özcan Sabanci
+ Ömer Sabancı (1959 Adana) married (1986) Arzu
# Haci Sabanci (1987 Istanbul)
# Hakan Sabanci (1991 Istanbul)
# Kerim Sabanci (1996 Istanbul)
+ Demet Cetindogan (f) married Cengiz Cetindogan
# Piril Cetindogan (1991 Istanbul)
# Merve Cetindogan (1993 Istanbul)
# Cevdet Cetindogan (1995 Istanbul)
+ Mehmet Sabancı (1963 Adana– 2004 London) married Zeynep
# Faruk Sabancı
# Burak Sabancı
o Şevket Sabancı (1936 Kayseri) married Hayırlı Zerrin
+ Emine Kamışlı (f) married Erhan Kamisli
# Fethi Kamisli (1991)
# Kerem Kamisli
+ Ali İhsan Sabancı (1969 Adana) married (1995) Vuslat Doğan (1971)
# Şevket Emrecan Sabancı
# Kaan Ali Sabancı
+ Sadika Sabanci married Aziz Koseoglu
o Erol Sabancı (1938 Kayseri) married Belkıs
+ Suzan Sabancı Dinçer (f) (1965) married (1995) Haluk Dinçer (1962)
# Haluk Akay Dinçer (1996)
# Ceyda Dinçer (f) (1998)
+ Çiğdem Sabancı Bilen (f) (1969) married (1996) Faruk Bilen (1969)
o Özdemir Sabancı (1941 Adana – 1996 İstanbul) married (1970) Sevda Girişken
+ Demir Sabancı married Aslihan
# Oya Sabanci
# Bora Sabanci
+ Serra Sabancı (f) (1975 Adana)
* Hacı Mehmet Sabancı married Aysen
o Ozcan Sabanci (1939) married Haci Sabanci (1935–1998)
+ Omer Sabanci (1959)
+ Mehmet Sabanci (1963-2004)
+ Demet Cetindogan
o Pembe Hidayetoglu (1941) married Mithat Hidayetoglu
o Yalçın Sabancı
+ Aysen Sabanci (1976) (f)
+ Ilhan Sabanci (1981)
+ Emirhan Sabanci (1986)
o Kaya Sabancı
+ Cem Sabancı (1981-2004)
+ Gizem Sabanci (1992) (f)

(f): Female

From http://en.wikipedia.org/

Rothschild banking family of England

The Rothschild banking family of England was founded in 1798 by Nathan Mayer von Rothschild (1777-1836) who first settled in Manchester but then moved to London. Nathan was sent there from his home in Frankfurt by his father, Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1744-1812). Wanting his sons to succeed on their own and to expand the family business across Europe, Mayer Amschel Rothschild had his eldest son remain in Frankfurt, while his four other sons were sent to different European cities to establish a financial institution to invest in business and provide banking services. Nathan Mayer von Rothschild, the third son, first established a textile jobbing business in Manchester and from there went on to establish N M Rothschild & Sons bank in London.

Endogamy within the family was an essential part of the Rothschild strategy in order to ensure control of their wealth remained in family hands. From the home base in Frankfurt, Rothschild sons not only established themselves in England but also in Paris, Vienna and Naples in the Two Sicilies. Through their collaborative efforts, the Rothschilds rose to prominence in a variety of banking endeavours including loans, government bonds and trading in bullion. Their financing afforded investment opportunities and during the 19th century they became major stakeholders in large-scale mining and rail transport ventures that were fundamental to the rapidly expanding industrial economies of Europe.

Changes in the heads of government, war, and other such events affected the family's fortunes both for their benefit and to their detriment. However, three historical events in particular especially damaged the interests of all Rothschild banking families across Europe: 1) the Revolutions of 1848, 2) the Great Depression of the 1930s and 3) Nazism of the late 30s until the Second World War.

Involvement in finance and industry

During the early part of the 19th century, the Rothschild's London bank took a leading part in managing and financing the subsidies that the British government transferred to its allies during the Napoleonic Wars. Through the creation of a network of agents, couriers and shippers, the bank was able to provide funds to the armies of the Duke of Wellington in Portugal and Spain. In 1818 the Rothschild bank arranged a £5 million loan to the Prussian government and the issuing of bonds for government loans. The providing of other innovative and complex financing for government projects formed a mainstay of the bank's business for the better part of the century. N M Rothschild & Sons financial strength in the City of London became such that by 1825-6 , the bank was able to supply enough coin to the Bank of England to enable it to avert a liquidity crisis.

Nathan Mayer's eldest son, Lionel de Rothschild (1808-1879) succeeded him as head of the London branch. Under Lionel the bank financed the British government's 1875 purchase of a controlling interest in the Suez Canal. Lionel also began to invest in railways as his uncle James had been doing in France. In 1869, Lionel's son, Alfred de Rothschild (1842-1918), became a director of the Bank of England, a post he held for 20 years. Alfred was one of those who represented the British Government at the 1892 International Monetary Conference in Brussels.

The Rothschild bank funded Cecil Rhodes in the development of the British South Africa Company and Leopold de Rothschild (1845-1917) administered Rhodes's estate after his death in 1902 and helped to set up the Rhodes Scholarship scheme at Oxford University. In 1873 de Rothschild Frères in France and N M Rothschild & Sons of London joined with other investors to acquire the Spanish government's money-losing Rio Tinto copper mines. The new owners restructured the company and turned it into a profitable business. By 1905, the Rothschild interest in Rio Tinto amounted to more than 30 percent. In 1887, the French and English Rothschild banking houses loaned money to, and invested in, the De Beers diamond mines in South Africa, becoming its largest shareholders.

The London banking house continued under the management of Lionel Nathan de Rothschild (1882-1942) and his brother Anthony Gustav de Rothschild (1887-1961) and then to Sir Evelyn de Rothschild (b.1931). In 2003, following Sir Evelyn's retirement as head of N M Rothschild & Sons of London, the English and French financial firms merged under the leadership of David René de Rothschild.

Decline of economic power

By the end of the 19th century, the introduction of national taxation systems had ended the Rothschild's policy of operating with a single set of commercial account records, resulting in the various houses gradually going their own separate ways. The coherence that had worked so well for the five brothers and their successor sons had all but disappeared by World War I. In Britain, the introduction of estate taxes resulted in Rothschild inheritors handing over multi-millions to the government and brought an end to the passing down of their great mansions. However, the estate tax relative to the bank and corporate assets was far more detrimental long-term because it restricted growth at a time when publicly owned banks were expanding rapidly with huge resources raised on capital markets.

The decline of the French and British Empires particularly after World War I along with increased nationalization by governments restricted growth potential for the Rothschilds. However, business analysts generally agree that their failure to shift their focus to opportunities in the United States, where the greatest industrial expansion at that time was occurring, is a major factor in the belief that the Rothschild bankers of today are only minor players in the global economy.

Other activities

Beyond banking and finance, members of the Rothschild family in England became academics, scientists and horticulturalists with worldwide reputations.

Nathaniel de Rothschild (1812-1870) was born in London, the fourth child of the founder of the British branch of the family. In 1842, he married cousin Charlotte de Rothschild (1825-1899) of Paris, France. She was the daughter of James Mayer de Rothschild and in 1850 they moved to Paris where he was to work for his father-in-law's bank. However, in 1853 Nathaniel acquired Château Brane Mouton, a vineyard in Pauillac in the Gironde département of France. Nathaniel Rothschild renamed the estate, Château Mouton Rothschild and it would become one of the best known wine labels in the world.

Elevated to Peerage

In 1822, the five Rothschild brothers at the head of the family's banks in various parts of Europe were each granted the title of baron or Freiherr by Austria's Francis I, formerly Francis II the last Holy Roman Emperor. As such, some members of the family used "de" or "von" Rothschild to acknowledge the grant of nobility. Only Nathan Mayer of the English branch never bothered with the title, taking pride in being simply "Mr. Rothschild."

In 1847, Anthony Nathan de Rothschild (1810-1876) was created 1st Baronet de Rothschild, of Tring Park. On his death, the title went to his nephew Nathan Mayer Rothschild II who was subsequently elevated to the House of Lords and created Baron Rothschild in 1885 with which title the baronetcy remains merged.

In 1850 Lionel de Rothschild (1808-1879) became the first practicing Jewish member of the British Parliament.

Philanthropy

The English Rothschilds and members of the other branches in Europe were all major contributors to causes in aid of the Jewish people. However, many of their philanthropic efforts extended far beyond Jewish ethnic or religious communities. They built hospitals and shelters for the needy, supported cultural institutions and were patrons of individual artists. Their donation of works of art to various galleries has been the largest of any family in history. At present, a research project is underway by The Rothschild Archive in London to document the family's philanthropic involvements.

Members of the Rothschild family of England include:

* Alfred de Rothschild (1842-1918)
* Amschel Mayor James Rothschild (1955-1996)
* Anthony Gustav de Rothschild (1887-1961)
* Anthony James de Rothschild (b. 1977)
* Anthony Nathan de Rothschild (1810-1876)
* Charles Rothschild (1877-1923)
* Charlotte Henriette de Rothschild (b. 1955)
* David Lionel de Rothschild (b. 1955)
* David Mayer de Rothschild (b. 1978)
* Dorothy de Rothschild (1895-1988)
* Edmund Leopold de Rothschild (1916-2009)
* Emma Georgina Rothschild (b. 1948)
* Evelina de Rothschild (1839-1866)
* Evelyn Achille de Rothschild (1886-1917)
* Sir Evelyn de Rothschild (b. 1931)
* Hannah de Rothschild, Countess of Rosebery (1851-1890)
* Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild (b. 1936)
* Kathleen (Nica de Koenigswarter) Rothschild (1913-1990)
* Leopold de Rothschild (1845-1917)
* Leopold David de Rothschild (b. 1927)
* Lionel de Rothschild (1808-1879)
* Lionel Nathan de Rothschild (1882-1942)
* Lynn Forester de Rothschild (b. 1954)
* Mayer Amschel de Rothschild (1818-1874)
* Miriam Louisa Rothschild (1908-2005)
* Nathaniel de Rothschild (1812-1870)
* Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777-1836)
* Nathan Mayer Rothschild, 1st Baron Rothschild (1840-1915)
* Nathaniel Philip Rothschild (b. 1971)
* Serena Dunn Rothschild (b. 1935)
* Victor Rothschild, 3rd Baron Rothschild (1910-1990)
* Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild (1868-1937)

Rothschild properties

All branches of the Rothschild banking family are famous for their art collections and a number for their palatial estates. Among the Rothschild properties in England were:

* Ascott House - Ascott, Buckinghamshire
* Aston Clinton House - Aston Clinton
* Ashton Wold - Northamptonshire
* Exbury Estate - Hampshire
* Eythrope - Waddesdon
* Gunnersbury Park - Ealing
* Halton House - Halton, Buckinghamshire
* Mentmore Towers - Mentmore
* Tring Park - Tring, Hertfordshire
* Waddesdon Manor - Waddesdon
* Spencer House

From http://en.wikipedia.org/

Reichmann family

The Reichmann family is a family best known for controlling the Olympia and York business empire.

The Reichmann's were originally from the small shtetl of Beled, Hungary but the ambitious Samuel Reichmann moved them to Vienna in 1928 where he became a successful merchant. He and his wife Renée had six children:

* Eva Reichmann (b. 1923)
* Edward Reichmann (1925-2005)
* Louis Reichmann (b. 1927)
* Albert Reichmann (b. 1929)
* Paul Reichmann (b. 1930)
* Ralph Reichmann (b. 1933)

During the Second World War the family fled first to Paris and then to the neutral city of Tangier. There Samuel became a prominent business leader specializing in the currency trade. Renée became a renowned humanitarian aiding victims of the Holocaust.

Despite the financial success of life in Tangier the family left to avoid the turbulence of Moroccan independence from the French protectorate. Eva settled in London, but Edward went to Montreal where in 1955 he founded Olympia Flooring and Tile to import tiles from Europe. Edward described Montreal with its large Jewish population and opportunity for profits fondly and soon the rest of the family followed him to Canada.

Louis joined Edward in Montreal but Albert, Paul, and Ralph settled in Toronto where they first expanded Edward's tile business but then moved into construction and property development. Paul was the leader of this business that became known as Olympia & York. Albert played a secondary but central role, while Ralph remained in charge of the tile business.

In the late 1960s Edward's Montreal business was faltering and on the verge of collapse. He was only saved from ruin by a bail-out from his younger brothers in Toronto. Embarrassed at this turn of events Edward left Canada for Israel.

Over time, through successful projects in Toronto and New York, Olympia & York became the largest property development and management firm in the world and the Reichmanns one of its richest families. Throughout the family remained strongly committed to their Haredi Judaism.

In the early 1990s the business empire was brought low by the Canary Wharf project in London. O&Y declared bankruptcy and the Reichmann fortune was greatly reduced. Since then the family has continued to be involved in real estate deals around the world. The younger generation of Reichmanns has increasingly been playing a major role, with Ralph's son Samuel Reichmann seen as the heir apparent.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/