Wertheimer family database

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Narrative

Baron Maurice (Moritz) de Hirsch inherited a considerable fortune from his parents, and received a handsome dowry with his wife, which he used to finance a railway enterprises in Austria, in Russia, and in the Balkans.
The enterprises, which consisted mainly in the construction of light railways, were only the beginning of his activities.
A Brussels banking firm, which had received from the Ottoman Government a concession for building a railway through the Balkans to Constantinople, was unable to carry the project through.
The Baron acquired the concession, went to Constantinople, and succeeded in getting some of the conditions altered for the better. He then formed a company, and made arrangements for the building of this great railway, which was, for the first time in history, to connect Europe with the Near East.

Narrative

In 1873, Baron Maurice de Hirsch gave the Alliance Israelite Universelle of Paris 1,000,000 francs to form new schools.
From 1880, until his death, he undertook to make good the deficit of the organisation, which amounted annually to several hundred thousand francs.
He encouraged the Alliance to establish trade schools, the entire expense of which he bore from 1878 until
his death.
In 1899, in place of his annual grant, he gave the Alliance a capital sum, which jdelded a yearly income of 400,000 francs

Narrative

Baron Maurice de Hirsch directed his energies to the investigation of the best places for Jewish colonization, the
result was the formation of an international association, incorporated under English law, and known as the Jewish
Colonization Association.
Baron de Hirsch caused careful inquiries and investigations to be made in countries which offered suitable land for agricultural development.
Baron de Hirsch sent agents to make investigations in various parts of America: in Brazil, Mexico, Canada and the Argentine.
On the advice of Dr. Guillaume Lowenthal, who was mainly entrusted with these inquiries, he arrived at the
conclusion that the Argentine presented conditions most favourable for a plan of colonization. Large tracts of land
were consequently purchased in the districts of Buenos Ayres, Santa Fe and Entre Rios.
The Russian Government, which had rejected his offer for the amelioration of the condition of the Jews in the Empire, co-operated with him in the organization of a system of emigration.
A central committee, selected by the Baron, and various provincial committees were formed in Petrograd, Warsaw, Odessa, Kiev and other centres.
He also formed a governing body in the Argentine.

Narrative

In 1891 the " Lovers of Zion " tried to persuade Baron de Hirsch to turn his activities to Palestine.
Theodor Herzl tried again in 1896, without success.
Later, the Baron he formulated his idea of creating a Jewish Commonwealth, saying that he was endeavouring to prepare the conditions for such a scheme.

Narrative

A large number of Russian Jews had emigrated to the United State, and they attracted Baron de Hirsch's benevolent interest.
In 1891, he was instrumental in organizing the Baron de Hirsch Fund, under the laws of the state of New York, with a capital of 2,500,000 dollars, which sum was afterwards increased.
Among his projects were the Baron de Hirsch Trade School in New York City and the Clara de Hirsch Home for Working Girls in New York.

Pedigree

1. de (von) Hirsch (de Gereuth), Joseph
   1. Wertheimer, Caroline
      1. de (von) Hirsch (de Gereuth), Amalie
      2. de Hirsch (de Gereuth), Maurice (Moritz)
         1. Bischoffsheim (Bishoffsheim), Clara (Claire)
            1. de Hirsch, Lucien
      3. de (von) Hirsch (de Gereuth), Emil
      4. de (von) Hirsch (de Gereuth), Theodor

Ancestors