Salomon Mayer von Rothschild

Salomon Mayer von Rothschild was a German banker and founder of the Vienna branch of the famous Rothschild banking house.

He was born in 1774 at Frankfurt-am-Main as the second son of the Mayer Amschel and Guetele Schnapper. His father owned a prosperous banking business in Germany and eventually included his sons and their families in the joint business operations. As the bank entered the stage of expansion, the eldest son was determined to stay in Frankfurt, while the others were relocated to different European cities with the aim to establish and ran branch offices.

Thus Solomon was sent in 1816 to Austria to formalize the already existing cooperation with the Austrian government. He financed the Nordbahn rail transport network and various others expensive undertakings. Under his management the Vienna branch office became highly successful and held important position in the development of the Austrian economy. Solomon was connected with Klemens Metternich and Friedrich von Gentz, and other prominent members of the Austrian aristocratic and political elite.

For his services to the Austrian government, in 1882 he was ennobled and in 1843 became the first Jew ever to be given honorary Austrian citizenship. He acquired extensive landed properties, among them Oderberg, Hultschin, and Schillersdorf for his family.

Solomon died in 1855 while on a visit to Paris. His son, Anselm, succeeded him in business.