David Friedlaender

David Friedlaender was born in Koenigsberg in 1750. In 1770 he moved to Berlin, and in 1776 established a silk factory there. He was recognized as an expert in his field and was appointed counselor of the state commission of inquiry into the textile industry. Friedlaender forwarded a memorandum in the name of the manufacturers, in 1791, advocating changes in the economic system against excessive government supervision over industry and the granting of protective tariffs to individual manufacturers.

At the age of 21 Friedlaender entered the circle of Moses Mendelssohn, who launched the movement for the emancipation of the German Jews and their adjustment to Western culture. He became prominent among his followers and was the leader of Prussian Jewish emancipation.