Johann Berenberg

Johann Berenberg was a German merchant and banker, co-owner and after 1768 the sole owner of the Berenberg Bank which still bears his name - Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co.

He was born in Hamburg as a son of Senator Rudolf Berenberg (1680–1746) and his wife, Anna Elisabeth Amsinck (1690–1748). In 1731 he was sent to Venice as apprentice where he remained until 1741. From 1748 he was appointed as the owner of the Berenberg Company together with his brother Paul. He also held numerous honorary offices in Hamburg.

He was married to Anna Maria Lastrop with whom he had two children – Rudolf who was most probably mentally ill and died at age of 20, and Elisabeth who remained the only heir and last surviving member of the Berenberg family.

Through her marriage with Johann Hinrich Gossler, an employee and partner of the Berenberg Company who headed the firm after Johann’s death in 1772, the survival of the firm was assured.