Demosthenes

Demosthenes was an ancient Greek entrepreneur and moneylender better known in history as father of the famous orator of the same name. He belonged to the local tribe Pandionis, and lived in the deme of Paenia in the Athenian countryside.

Demosthenes owned two manufactories – the one for manufacture of cutleries, while the other was for couches. That is the reason why the young orator bore the nickname "the cutler". Facilities operated successfully and employed more than thirty slaves. Besides manufacturing, Demosthenes was also very active on the field of finance. He made loans with interest, invested in risky but highly profitable overseas trade, and owned a high amount of cash at home and deposited at bank. At his death he had left an estate worth more than 14 talents.

He died when the young Demosthenes was seven years old. The boy was left to the care of three guardians who squandered the majority of his inheritance.