Johan Hinrich Gossler

Johann Hinrich Gossler was a German banker and grand burgher of Hamburg, remembered as the owner and head of the Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co., more commonly known as the Berenberg Bank.

Gossler was a descendant of the ancient Hamburg family who settled in the city back in the 14th century. When he was 15 Johan jointed the Berenberg Company, which was founded in 1590 by the Hanseatic dynasty of merchants and bankers of Belgian origin. It was a good place to start the career as the Berenberg Company was involved in merchant banking, insurance, shipping and trade of goods. After he completed his apprenticeship, at age of 22 Johan went in the company’s service for Cadiz, and in the following years he travelled extensively in Spain, Portugal, France and England. He returned to Hamburg in 1768. In the same year he married Elisabeth Berenberg (1749–1822), the only daughter of the company’s owner Johann Berenberg. The next year Gossler became a partner in the firm. In 1773, upon the death of Johann Berenberg's brother Cornelius, the male line of the family became extinct and Johann Hinrich Gossler became the company's sole owner.