Jonathan-Raphaël Bisschoffsheim

Jonathan-Raphaël Bisschoffsheim (26 April 1808, Mayence, France-5 February 1883, Brussels) was a French-Belgian banker, businessman and philantropist. He descended from an impeccable jewish family, and was endowed with an exceptional European network. On 11 June 1832, he married Henriette Goldschmidt in Brussels, and together they had 4 children: Claire (Clara) (1832-1899), Ferdinand Raphael (1837-?), Regine (1834-?), and Hortense Henriette (1843-1901).

Career

In 1827, he co-founded the bank of "Bischoffsheim & Goldschmidt". He played an important role for the finances and the institutions during the early years of Belgian independence. Bisschoffsheim was a Director of the "Banque de Belgique" and was one of the founders of the National Bank of Belgium, the regional tramways and managed the "Communal Credit" (Dutch Gemeentekrediet, French: Credit Communal) and the "Caisse Generale d'Epargne et de Retraite" (CGER or ASLK). Together with his brother he founded a predecessor of the Paribas bank. He was also a Liberal member of the Belgian Parliament, and as such was influential in the development of the public education network.

ource

* Youssef Cassis, "Capitals of Capital, A History of International Financial Centres, 1780–2005", Université de Genève, ISBN-10: 0521845351
* [http://www.amyisrael.co.il/europe/belgium/ The jewish community of Belgium] - Jewish figures of note
* [http://banque.bnpparibas.com//en/pid640/1820-1872.html From The "Restauration" To the Third Republic] (Origins of Paribas)
* Meeuwissen, Eric. "Richesse oblige. La Belle Epoque des Grandes Fortunes". Préface de Jean Stengers, Brussels, Editions Racine, 1999, p. 315-318.