David Amsel Meyer

David Amsel Meyer was a Danish financier, born in Copenhagen in 1753. He prospered in business during the last decade of the 18th century when his operations extended to transoceanic countries.

Meyer and S. S. Trier, Meyer’s nephew, founded the firm of Meyer & Trier, which occupied a prominent position in the world of finance. The firm had two sever crises, one in 179 when a fire devastated Copenhagen, and other in 1799 when a general financial panic occurred. From both of these crises the firm sustained no material injury to its commercial interests.

Meyer had openly criticized the way in which the finances of the country were being administered, and he especially denounced the reckless issue of unsecured paper currency. During the depression of the money market due to the Napoleonic wars, Myer was summoned by King Frederick VI (r. 1808 – 1839) and served to him as unofficial adviser. During a financial crisis in 1811 the government once again sought help from Meyer; enormous sums were placed at his disposal and it was left to him to decide whether applicants for funds desired the money for legitimate business purposes or for speculation, and to grant or refuse the requests accordingly. During the latter part of the same year Meyer retired from active business. He left a fortune of 300,000 rigsbankdaler of which sum he bequeathed 200,000 kroner to Jewish schools and charities in Copenhagen, while the remainder was distributed among various other educational and charitable institutions.