Meyer Guggenheim Explained

Meyer Guggenheim
Birth Date:	1 February 1828
Birth Place:	Lengnau, Aargau, Switzerland
Death Place:	Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
Children:	Isaac Guggenheim Daniel Guggenheim Murry Guggenheim Solomon R. Guggenheim Simon Guggenheim Benjamin Guggenheim William Guggenheim Jeanette Guggenheim Rose Guggenheim Cora Guggenheim
Relatives:	See Guggenheim family

Meyer Guggenheim (pronounced as /de/; February 1, 1828 – March 15, 1905) 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 (née Levinger) Guggenheim and was of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry.

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 (one of the largest of the 19th century) through business ventures in mining and smelting, mostly in the United States.^[1]

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.^[2]

Personal life

Guggenheim met Barbara Weil (1834–1900), the daughter of his new stepmother, and married her four years later around 1852.^[3] Together, they were the parents of ten surviving children.

Five of their seven sons were active in the family businesses, including:^[4]

• Isaac Guggenheim (1854–1922), who married Carrie Sonneborn in 1876.^[5]
• Daniel Guggenheim (1856–1930), head of the family after his father's death, who was the most active of his sons in developing and acquiring worldwide mining interests.^[6]
• Maurice Guggenheim (1858–1939), originally in the lace and embroidery import business; by 1881, he was a financier involved in mining and smelting.^[7]
• Solomon Robert Guggenheim (1861–1949), a supporter of modern art through his foundation and donations to the Museum of Modern Art.^[8]
• Jeanette Guggenheim (1863–1889), married Albert Gerstle and died in childbirth.^[9]
• Benjamin Guggenheim (1865–1912),^[10] who died in the Titanic disaster. He married Florette Seligman.^[11]
• John Simon Guggenheim (1867–1941), a one-term senator from Colorado.^[12]
• William Guggenheim (1868–1941)^[13]
• Rose Guggenheim (1871–1945),^[14] who married three times; first to Albert Loeb (head of the New York Stock Exchange), second to Samuel M. Goldsmith in 1908, and third to Charles E. Quicke.^[15]
• Cora Gwendalyn Guggenheim (1873–1956), who married to Louis Frank Rothschild, founder of L.F. Rothschild.^[16]

After his wife's death in 1900, Guggenheim and his sons provided $200,000 to Mount Sinai Hospital for the construction of a hospital in her honor.^[17] Guggenheim died on March 15, 1905, in Palm Beach, Florida.^[18] He was interred at the Salem Fields Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.^[19]

Descendants

Through his son Benjamin, Guggenheim was a grandfather of art collector and socialite Peggy Guggenheim.^[20]

External links

• National Mining Hall of Fame: Meyer Guggenheim

Notes and References

1. Encyclopedia: Meyer Guggenheim . Encyclopedia . . April 5, 2013.
2. National Mining Hall of Fame, Meyer Guggenheim, accessed January 13, 2014
3. Book: Reme . Jim . Navarra . Tova . R.N . Tova Navarra . Monmouth University . 2002 . . 978-0-7385-1010-1 . 29 . September 11, 2019 . en.
4. Book: Davis . John H. . The Guggenheims: An American Epic . 1994 . S.P.I. Books . New York . 978-1-56171-351-6 . registration . September 11, 2019 . en.
5. News: ISAAC GUGGENHEIM DIES IN ENGLAND; Overcome by Sudden Illness After Greeting a Friend in Southampton. LEADER IN MINING INDUSTRY Identified With Large Industrial Interests of His Family--Body to Be Brought Here. . September 11, 2019 . . October 11, 1922.
6. News: DANIEL GUGGENHEIM DIES SUDDENLY AT 74 OF HEART DISEASE Philanthropist, Capitalist and Patron of the Arts Succumbs at Port Washington Home. SET UP AERONAUTICS FUND $2,500,000 Gift the Basis of Important Research—Liberal Donor to Many Charities. HE WON WEALTH IN MINING A Friend of Labor, He Had Wide Interests in Industry—Leaders in Many Fields Pay Tribute. A Life of Usefulness. DANIEL GUGGENHEIM DIES SUDDENLY AT 74 Began Work in Switzerland. Was Progressive in Business. Many Business Connections. An Ardent Humanitarian. Devoted to Art. Aeronautics School Created. PHILANTHROPIST CALLED BY DEATH. BRITISH PRAISE GUGGENHEIM. Newspapers Pay Tribute to His Aid to Aviation. . September 11, 2019 . . September 29, 1930.
7. News: M. GUGGENHEIM, 81, FINANCIER, IS DEAD Senior Member of the Family Company Was Son of Mining and Smelting Leader NOTED FOR HIS CHARITIES Founder of Dental Clinic and Patron of Music—Served in Many Directorships Founded a Foundation Became Smelting Director $1,900,000 in Grants . September 11, 2019 . . November 16, 1939.
8. News: S. R. GUGGENHEIM, MINE OWNER, DIES -- Last of Famous Brothers, Known as an Art Patron, Was 88 Years Old . September 11, 2019 . . November 3, 1949.
9. Book: Hoy . Edwin Palmer . The Guggenheims and the American Dream . 1967 . Funk & Wagnalls . 267 . September 11, 2019 . en.
10. News: GUGGENHEIM, DYING, SENT WIFE MESSAGE Tried to Do His Duty, He Asked Steward to Tell Her. . September 11, 2019 . . April 20, 1912.
11. News: W. SELIGMAN KILLS HIMSELF IN A HOTEL; Son of Founder of J. & W. Seligman & Co. Found Dead at the Gerard. . September 11, 2019 . . February 13, 1912.
12. News: S.GUGGENHEIM, 73, FINANCIER, IS DEAD; One of 7 Famous Brothers, Was Smelting Firm Head, an Ex-Senator, Philanthropist . September 11, 2019 . . November 4, 1941.
13. News: WM. GUGGENHEIM, INDUSTRIALIST, DIES; Philanthropist Was Youngest of Meyer Guggenheim's 7 Sons--Stricken Here ALSO KNOWN AS AUTHOR Managed His Father's Mining Interests in Mexico Before Retirement in 1901 . September 11, 2019 . . June 28, 1941.
14. News: Mrs. Rose G. Quicke . September 11, 2019 . . February 15, 1945.
15. News: MRS. ROSE LOEB WED TO CAPT. C.E. QUICKE Married in the Ritz Apartment of the Bride's Brother, Daniel Guggenheim. . September 11, 2019 . . December 12, 1924.
16. News: MRS. ROTHSCHILD DEAD; Last of the 9 Children of Meyer Guggenheim Was 83 . September 11, 2019 . . December 14, 1956.
17. News: $200,000 GIFT TO MT. SINAI Meyer Guggenheim and His Sons Provide for a New Hospital. Directors Yesterday Voted to Accept the Donation with Its Conditions — Memorial to Mrs. Guggenheim. . September 11, 2019 . . April 23, 1900.
18. News: MEYER GUGGENHEIM, SMELTER KING, DEAD; Severe Cold Terminated Fatally at Palm Beach. HAD REMARKABLE CAREER Started as Stove Polish Vendor and Finally, with His Seven Sons, Built Up Great Smelting Industry. . September 11, 2019 . . March 17, 1905.
19. News: MEYER GUGGENHEIM BURIED. "His Success Was Not by Tearing Down" Says Dr. Silverman . September 11, 2019 . . March 20, 1905.
20. Web site: Peggy Guggenheim Is Dead at 81; Known for Modern Art Collection. Shenker. Israel. December 24, 1979. Encyclopedia Titanica.