Stern family


The Stern family is a Jewish banking family originally from Frankfurt. It traces back to Samuel Hayum Stern, who in the 1780s became a wine merchant in Frankfurt. In 1805, his son,, converted the family business into a bank called Jacob S.H. Stern & Co., which became one of the most prominent banking institutions in Germany. Jacob S.H. Stern sent his sons from Frankfurt to build banks in three of the most important European capitals, Paris, London and Berlin, where they prospered over the subsequent two centuries. The family built its own banks and were founders and major shareholders of leading banks that have persisted to this day, including BNP Paribas in France, Deutsche Bank in Germany, Garanti Bank in Turkey or Banamex in Mexico.
The Stern family has a long history of commitment to society and of contribution to the arts, education and other causes. In Germany, the family was involved in the creation of the University of Frankfurt and created the Theodor Stern Medizinisches Institut, which became the University of Frankfurt’s medical school. The family also created schools, care homes and hospitals for the bereaved and the underprivileged. The family also gave the Albrecht Dürer Bibliotek to the Frankfurt city library. In France, the family established the Fondation Edgard Stern at the University of Paris to support underprivileged students. Edgard and Marguerite Stern also created the Fondation Fould Stern in support of Jewish children’s health and education. Members of the Stern family chaired Red Cross committees and other relief organisations during the time of the first World War. In the United Kingdom, the family historically supported many causes, including social welfare in London’s East End, support for those affected by the First World War and other causes. Herbert Stern, Lord Michelham, bequeathed the quadriga on London’s Wellington Arch to the nation in 1912.  Designed by Adrian Jones, the sculpture depicting the angel of peace descending on the chariot of war is the largest bronze statue in Europe. The monumental sculpture took four years to complete and includes Herbert Stern’s 10-year old son, Herman, as the charioteer.

Family tree