Joachim Edler von Popper

Joachim Elder von Popper was successful merchant, banker, manufacturer, and co-lessee of the profitable tobacco monopoly. He was also a patron of literature and a generous philanthropist.

Joachim’s family was originally from Breznice, Bohemia. His father was well established businessman and from the 1720s he became “primator der Landesjudenschaft” (head of the Jews of Bohemia). Joachim moved to Prague where he established himself as a merchant, banker, and manufacturer. During the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763), he was a supplier to the Austrian army. In 1765 he became a major partner in the first pan-Austrian Jewish tobacco farm.

From 1772 till 1792 Joachim held the position the head of the Jews of Bohemia, a position once held by his father. In 1790 he was ennobled, and in the same year he submitted a petition, asking the emperor to reformulate his edict for the Jews of Bohemia in accordance with the Galician model, so that it would include a revocation of the restrictive Familiants Law, relieve the tax burden, and grant permission for Jews to acquire land property.