Baron Jean-Conrad Hottinguer

Baron Jean-Conrad Hottinguer (February 15, 1764 – September 12, 1841^[1]) was a Swiss-born banker who later became a Baron of the French empire.

Biography

Early life

Since 1362, The Hottinger name has been intricately linked with the political, commercial, economic, cultural and religious life in Europe. In 1401, Hans, Heinrich and Rudolf Hottinger were appointed The Burghers of Zürich. Following his fathers footsteps in 1507, Rudolph Hottinger became a member of the Zürich grand council. In the decades that followed, the Hottinger family distinguished themselves as surgeons, academics, and theologians. In 1740, Hans-Rudolph introduced the Hottinger family to the world of business and trade, although family continued to occupy important public post. However, the Hottinger family now turned most of their energy to banking.

Hans-Konrad was born in 1764, he later changed his name to Jean-Conrad. He studied finance in Geneva, where he took a particular interest in the emerging areas of commercial laws and international trade. He became a devoted student of public borrowing in both France and England.

Career

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Baron Jean Conrad Hottinguer

In 1784, Hottinguer left the city of Zürich to go pursue a business career in Paris. Due to the work of Jean-Conrad, the name Hottinger appeared under the heading of “Bankers” in the Almanach Royal de France in 1784. During the turbulent years of the French Revolution, banking and trade associations were closed down to be reborn later on under the Directoire. Hottinguer left France during this troublesome period and traveled around Europe and America, he met his future wife Martha Redwood in London, the grand daughter of the founder of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum in Newport and married her August 24 1793. During this time, he made an array of contacts, and set up a useful business network around the world. This resulted in a number of fruitful commercial and business relationships, including the Bishop of Autun, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord.

After many years of traveling, Hottinguer finally returned to France in 1796 to continue working. Business recommenced at Hottinger & Cie in Paris once the Revolution ended. The French economy was once again able to function properly when banking and trading had resumed. Hottinger & Cie became intimately involved in financial and trade industries in France, Switzerland and many other areas of the world thanks to the work of Hottinguer.

In the late 18th century, Hottinguer was one of the French agents involved in the XYZ Affair, a much-publicized diplomatic scandal between France and the United States.

In the beginning 19th century, a family friend and associate, Henri Escher, established the first Hottinger representative office in America. His son, Alfred Escher, founded Credit Suisse, the Ecole Polytechnique of Zürich, and Gothard Rail Company before being made President of the national council. For his achievements, the city for Zürich recognizes him with a statue.

In 1803, Hottinguer was appointed as a founding member of The Board of Governors for The Banque de France. He then went on to become a member of the general Council of trade and then president of the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry. On September 19, 1810, he was made a Baron of the French empire. This hereditary title would pass to the oldest son of each Baron.

Hottinger later became interested in the insurance industry. In the first year that the insurance industry was open to bankers, he created the first Compagnie Royale D`Assurances. In 1818, he joined forces with Benjamin Delesserts to create the Caisse d`Epargne et de Prèvoyance de Paris, this was France’s first savings bank. Jean-Conrad died in 1841 and was later succeeded by his son Jean-Henri Hottinguer.