Meyer Guggenheim
Meyer Guggenheim was the patriarch of what became known as the Guggenheim family in the United States, which became one of the world's wealthiest families during the 19th century, and remained so during the 20th.
Early life
Guggenheim was born in Lengnau, Aargau, Switzerland, on February 1, 1828. He was the son of Simon Meyer Guggenheim and Schafeli Guggenheim and was of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. He had five siblings. Guggenheim's family fell into poverty when his father had to give up his job to care for Guggenheim's sick mother. His mother eventually died when Meyer was 6 years old. As a child, Meyer sold articles door-to-door after school to support his family. His father hoped to remarry with Rachel Weil, a widow. However, due to his father's poverty, restrictions in Switzerland stopped them from getting married. This forced the family to emigrate to the United States, where no such restrictions on marriage applied.Career
After emigrating from Switzerland in 1847 to the United States, he launched a new life in the importing business. He ultimately made his fortune through business ventures in mining and smelting, mostly in the United States.After investing in silver mines in the Leadville mining district of Colorado, he expanded into ore smelting in Colorado. He built a number of smelters across the United States and in northern Mexico. As his several sons grew up, they assumed leading roles in the family mining and smelting business.
Family
Guggenheim met Barbara Weil, the daughter of his new stepmother, and married her four years later around 1852. Together, they were the parents of ten surviving children:Five of their seven sons were active in the family businesses.
- Isaac Guggenheim, who married Carrie Sonneborn in 1876.
- Daniel Guggenheim, head of the family after his father's death, who was the most active of his sons in developing and acquiring worldwide mining interests.
- Maurice Guggenheim, originally in the lace and embroidery import business; by 1881, he was a financier involved in mining and smelting.
- Solomon Robert Guggenheim, a supporter of modern art through his foundation and donations to the Museum of Modern Art.
- Jeanette Guggenheim, married Albert Gerstle and died in childbirth.
- Benjamin Guggenheim, who died in the Titanic disaster. He married Florette Seligman.
- John Simon Guggenheim, a one-term senator from Colorado.
- William Guggenheim
- Rose Guggenheim, married three times: first to Albert Loeb, then to Samuel M. Goldsmith in 1908, and last to Charles E. Quicke.
- Cora Gwendalyn Guggenheim married Louis Frank Rothschild, founder of L.F. Rothschild.