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Albert Salomon von Rothschild was a prominant banker in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and an important member of the Austrian Rothschild family. He was born in Vienna (1844). His father was Anselm von Rothschild (1803-1874). His mother was Charlotte von Rothschild (1807-1859). He was their youngest child and known in the family as "Salbert". He went to school in Vienna and Brünn/Brno. When his father died (1874), his brothers (Nathaniel and Ferdinand) inherited most of the family's extensive real estate and art collection. Albert inherited the family businesses--baking and railways. The once extensive communication between Albert's Austrian branch of the family and the English branch had declined significantly. Albert took steps to revive the exchnge of commercial and political information. He married Baroness Bettina Caroline de Rothschild (1858-1892) of Paris, a daughter of Alphonse James de Rothschild (1876). They had seven children. The Baron appears to have enjoyed photographt as a hobby.
The Rothschild family was founded by obscure peddler Amschel Moses. It is said of him that he was so poor and of such lowly status that he did not even know the family surname. He estblished ashop in in Jew Street, Frankfort in the 18th century. He placed a "rothes schild" (red shield) over the door and that became the basis for the family name. One of Amschel sons, Maier Amschel Rothschild, was to be a rabbi. Instead he obtained a clerkship in the Oppenheimer Bank of Hanover. From this modest beginning he worked laboriously and evetually secured a partnership. Prince Wilhelm I of Hesse noted him because if their interest in chess and appointed him his banker. He evetually had five children. On his deathbed he swore his five sons continue the family business with absolute loyalty to each other and to the House of Rothschild. From this modest beginning the family developed into one of the great banking houses of Europe with branches in London, Vienna, and Paris.
Baron Albert Salomon von Rothschild's father was Anselm von Rothschild (1803-74). His mother was Charlotte von Rothschild (1807-59).
Albert had two older brothers, Nathaniel and Ferdinand.
Albert Salomon von Rothschild was born in Vienna (1844). He was their youngest child and known in the family as "Salbert"--a combination of his first and second name. Wedo not yet have any information about his childhood.
He went to school in Vienna and Br�nn/Brno.
Although Albert was the younger brother, apparently their father considered him the better busnessman. When his father died (1874), his brothers (Nathaniel and Ferdinand) inherited most of the family's extensive real estate and art collection. Albert inherited the family businesses--baking and railways.
This included the S M von Rothschild Bank. Albert also became the single largest shareholding in the Creditanstalt. He also inherited a large number of shares in the Northern Railway.
The Baron received the Iron Cross of Merit for his role in the Austro-Hungarian monetary reform (1893).
The once extensive communication between Albert's Austrian branch of the family and the English branch had declined significantly. The Baron sought to renew the exchnge of commercial and political information.
The Baron owned several important properties. The most prominant was the Palais Albert Rothschild at Prinz-Eugen-Straße 20-22, in the IV. district Wieden district of Vienna. The Palis was designed by the French architect Gabriel-Hippolyte Destailleur and built after the Barn's marriage (1876-82).
The Baron's unmarried brother Nathaniel died (1905). Albert inherited his Palais Rothschild at 14-16 Theresianumgasse in Vienna along with a very large and important art collection.
The Baron and his wife acquired considerable social standing in Austria-Hungary. He and his wife were presented at court (1887). This was the frst Jew to receive such an honor in Austria-Hungary's very formal asd status concious royal court.
The Baron was involved in a wide range of charitable and other philanthrophic activities. The greatest involvement was with the arts. He supported institutions that provided assistance to Jewish artists and musicians. After Bettina's untimely death (1892), he constructed the Bettina Frauenspital (Bettina Hospital for Women). The Baron was also interested in austronmy. He helped fund the Vienna Observatory. Austrian astronomers nmed siting for him and Bettina.
The Baron married Baroness Bettina Caroline de Rothschild (1858-1892) of Paris, a daughter of Alphonse James de Rothschild (1876). Based on the number of children, it was a happy marriage. They had seven children. Georg Anselm Alphonse (1877-1934) was their first son. He did not marry and died in a private mental hospital. Other children included: Alfons Maier (1878-1942) and Charlotte Esther (1879-85).
Ludwig (Louis) Nathaniel (1882-1955) was the son the Baron most respected. Much of the family fortune was put in hs hands. With the NAZI Anschlu� (1938), the NAZIs arrested him and blackmailed and terrorised his family until they agreed to sign over all their possessions to secure his release. They then fled the Reich. After the War, the Austrian Government refused to meaninfully compensate the family are return the family's realestate or art collection.
Other children included Eugène Daniel (1884-1976), Valentine No�mi (1886-1969), and Oskar Ruben (1888-1909). Bettina died only a few years after Oskar's birth. Oskar was the youngest child. He never married and at age 21 committed suicide. I'm not sure anout the details, but it apparently was over his engagement to Olga Menn, the daughter of a Chicago doctor. Newspaper reported that the young woman was "crushed" as Oskar's suicide. ["Crushed"] Oskar's residence built for him by his father was later rented to the American ambassador (1910),
We do not know much about how the childood of the Baron's children or how they were dressed. The portrait here suggest that they were formally dressed in fancy outfits (figure 1). Also note his long hair.
The Baron appears to have enjoyed photography as a hobby. The portrait here appears to be a photograph he took of his youngest son Oskar in 1895 (figure 1). TheBaron was also fascinated by chess. He sponsored many tournaments. He was elected president and patron of the Vienna Chess Society (1872).
"Crushed by Baron's death," New York Times (Seprember 9, 1909).
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