Guggenheim family


The Guggenheim family is an American-Jewish family of Swiss origin known for making their fortune in the mining industry, in the early 20th century, especially in the United States and South America. After World War I, many family members withdrew from the businesses and became involved in philanthropy, especially in the arts, aviation, medicine, and culture.

History

, a Swiss citizen of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, arrived in the United States in 1847. His surname derived from the name of the Alsatian village of Gougenheim. He married Barbara Meyer, whom he met in the United States. Over the next few decades, their 11 children and their descendants became known for global successes in mining and smelting businesses, under the name Guggenheim Exploration, including the American Smelting and Refining Company. In 1882, with seven of his sons already involved in the family businesses, Meyer organized M. Guggenheim's Sons, which was later reorganized as Guggenheim Brothers. In the early 20th century, the family amassed one of the largest fortunes in the world.
Following World War I, it sold its global mining interests and later purchased nitrate mines in Chile. Subsequently, the family largely withdrew from direct involvement in running businesses. Family members became known for their philanthropy in diverse areas such as modern art, aviation, and medicine. They donated funds to develop Guggenheim Museums, the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory, and the Guggenheim Pavilion at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan, designed by I. M. Pei.

Current interests

Peter Lawson-Johnston, a British Guggenheim descendant, founded Guggenheim Partners which today manages over $345 billion in assets. Another family vehicle, Guggenheim Investment Advisors, oversees about $50 billion in assets.

Family tree

Meyer Guggenheim married Barbara Meyer, of German Jewish descent, in 1852. They met in the United States. They had 11 children together, including eight sons, five of whom were active in the family businesses: Isaac, Daniel, Maurice, Solomon Robert, and Simon Guggenheim. Sons Benjamin, Robert, and William pursued other careers. The daughters were Jeanette, Rose, and Cora. Meyer's 11 children, their spouses, and notable descendants are shown below:
  • Meyer Guggenheim, m. Barbara Meyer
  • * Isaac Guggenheim, m. Carrie Sonneborn
  • ** Beulah V. Guggenheim, m. William I. Spiegelberg
  • ** Edyth B. Guggenheim, m. Louis M. Josephthal, future admiral and founder of Josephthal & Co.
  • *** Audrey Josephthal m. Cornelius Ruxton Love Jr.
  • **** Iris Love
  • ** Helene Guggenheim
  • *** m. Edmund L. Haas
  • *** m. Corlette Glorney
  • *** m. Lord Melvill Ward
  • * Daniel Guggenheim, became head of the family after his father's death; m. Florence Shloss
  • ** Meyer Robert Guggenheim
  • ** Harry Frank Guggenheim
  • *** Diane Guggenheim
  • ** Gladys Eleanor Guggenheim, m. Roger Williams Straus
  • *** Roger Williams Straus Jr., a founder and chairman of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, publishers
  • ****Roger Williams Straus III
  • * Maurice "Murry" Guggenheim, m. Leonie Bernheim
  • ** Edmond A. Guggenheim, m. Marion Price
  • ** Lucille Guggenheim, m. Frederic Adam Gimbel, div.
  • * Solomon R. Guggenheim, founded the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation; m. Irene M. Rothschild, daughter of Victor Henry Rothschild
  • ** Eleanor Mary Guggenheim, m. Arthur Stuart, 7th Earl Castle Stewart
  • *** David Stuart, Viscount Stuart
  • *** Robert Stuart, Viscount Stuart
  • *** Arthur Stuart, 8th Earl Castle Stewart
  • **** Andrew Stewart, 9th Earl Castle Stewart
  • *** The Honorable Simon Stuart
  • ** Gertrude R. Guggenheim
  • ** Barbara Josephine Guggenheim, married John Lawson-Johnston of the family producing Bovril
  • *** Peter Lawson-Johnston, President Guggenheim Museum, founder Guggenheim Partners
  • * Jeanette Guggenheim, m. Albert M. Gerstle
  • ** Nettie Gerstle
  • * Benjamin Guggenheim, died in the Titanic disaster; m. Florette Seligman
  • ** Benita Rosalind Guggenheim
  • ** Marguerite "Peggy" Guggenheim, founded the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice
  • *** m. Laurence Vail
  • **** Michael Cedric Sindbad Vail, m. Margaret Angela Vail
  • ***** Karole Vail
  • **** Pegeen Vail Guggenheim
  • ***** m. Jean Hélion
  • ****** Fabrice Hélion
  • ****** Nicolas Hélion
  • ****** Davide Hélion
  • ***** m. Ralph Rumney
  • ****** Sandro Rumney
  • *** m. Max Ernst
  • ** Hazel King-Farlow Guggenheim,
  • *** m. Sigmund Marshall Kempner
  • *** m. Milton S. Waldman
  • **** Terrence Waldman
  • **** Benjamin Waldman
  • **** Terrence and Benjamin both fell to their deaths from the roof of the Surrey, a 16-story apartment hotel at 20 East 76th Street, New York, on October 19, 1928.
  • *** m. Denys King-Farlow
  • **** John King-Farlow
  • **** Barbara Benita King-Farlow
  • ***** Ghislaine Agostini
  • ***** Amelia Kaye
  • ***** Adam Jacobs
  • *** m. Charles Everett McKinley Jr.
  • *** m. Archibald Butt Jr.
  • *** m. Larry Leonard
  • * Robert Guggenheim
  • * Simon Guggenheim, elected as a U.S. Senator from Colorado; m. Olga Hirsch
  • ** John Simon Guggenheim
  • ** George Denver Guggenheim
  • * William Guggenheim
  • ** m. Grace Brown Herbert
  • ** m. Aimee Lillian Steinberger
  • *** William Guggenheim Jr., m. Elizabeth Newell
  • **** William Guggenheim III
  • ***** m. Grace Embury
  • ****** Maire Embury Guggenheim
  • ****** Jaenet Newell Guggenheim
  • ***** m. Judith Arnold
  • ****** William Douglas Guggenheim
  • ******* m. Traci Lee Aikey
  • ******** Lilian Grace Guggenheim
  • ******** Katherine Joy Guggenheim
  • ******** Emily Faith Guggenheim
  • ****** Christopher Mark Guggenheim
  • ******* m. Cheryl Anne Brower
  • ******** Alexandra Anne Guggenheim
  • ******** Athena May Guggenheim
  • ****** Jonathan Paul Guggenheim
  • ******* Zoya Odette Guggenheim
  • ***** m. Stephanie Maddox
  • * Rose Guggenheim, m. Albert Loeb, the nephew of Solomon Loeb
  • ** Harold A. Loeb
  • ** Edwin M. Loeb
  • ** Willard E. Loeb
  • * Cora Guggenheim, m. Louis F. Rothschild, founder of L. F. Rothschild
  • ** Louis F. Rothschild Jr.
  • ** Muriel Barbara Rothschild, m. William Donald Scott
  • ** Gwendolyn Fay Rothschild

    Businesses

The following is a list of businesses in which the Guggenheim family have held a controlling or otherwise significant interest.
  • ASARCO
  • Anglo-Lautaro Nitrate Corporation
  • Braden Copper Company
  • Cain Hoy Stable
  • Chile Exploration Company
  • Farrar, Straus and Giroux
  • Gourmet
  • Guggenheim Partners
  • Kennecott Copper
  • Nevada Northern Railway
  • Newsday
  • Tradition Records
  • ''Yukon Gold Company''