Robert Gerling
Robert Wilhelm Gerling was a German insurance executive and businessman who founded the Gerling-Konzern, of the largest insurance providers in Germany in 1904. He was the patriarch of the Gerling family of Cologne, Germany.
Early life and education
Gerling was born 13 August 1878 in Elberfeld, the fourth of six children, to Robert Gerling Sr., a commercial representative for his fathers button factory, and Anna Gerling. After school he completed a 3-year apprenticeship as insurance agent with C. Mihr & Co., which owners were friends of his fathers.Career
After briefly working for C. Mihr & Co., he joined Mannheimer Versicherungsgesellschaft in 1896. He founded the Gerling-Konzern on 7 May 1904.Personal life
On 11 July 1907, Gerling married Auguste Hoffmeister, who was the daughter of a penitentiary director in Cologne. They had three sons;- Robert Gerling Jr.
- Hans Gerling, married, one son Rolf Gerling, who was the majority owner of Gerling-Konzern until 2005
- Walter Gerling, insurance executive and philanthropist.
Literature
- Peter Koch: Gerling, Robert Wilhelm. In: Neue Deutsche Biographie. Band 6, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1964,, S. 308 f.
- Ders.: Robert Gerling , in: Rheinisch-Westfälische Wirtschaftsbiographien, Band 9, Münster 1967, S. 133–150