David ben Joseph Coen Bakri

David ben Joseph Coen Bakri was at the helm of the Algerian firm “Bakri Brothers”. The firm was founded by his father and was conducting trade in grain. In 1797 David married Aziza, a niece of wealthy financier Naphtali Busnash. Bakri and Busnash formed a partnership and the “Bakri Brothers” was renamed to “Bakri Busnash”. The firm was dealing with trade and finances and expanded quickly by making use of Busnash’s connections with the Dey of Regency of Algiers and Bakri’s skilful management. The firm was so successful that its clients were European governments who entrusted them with the management of their Algerian money affairs.

In 1795 the firm supplied France with a considerable quantity of wheat on credit; and on their advice the Dey authorized a loan to the French Directory of five million francs, the credit for which was eventually transferred to them. About thirty years later, the settlement of this loan brought the definitive rupture between the Regency and France, and, finally, the conquest of Algeria by the French.

In 1806 David was appointed chief of the Algerian Jews, a position previously held by his partner. However, this position brought him closer to the political intrigues which ended by David’s accusation of high treason and decapitation on February 4, 1811.