Bethel Henry Strousberg
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bethel Henry Strousberg (born 20 November 1823 in Neidenburg, East Prussia; died May 31, 1884 in Berlin born as Baruch Hirsch Strousberg) was a German industrialist and railway entrepreneur during its rapid industrial expansion in the 19th century. He cemented his social standing with the construction of the Palais Strousberg in Berlin's Wilhelmstrasse designed by August Orth.
Strousberg's empire began a terminal decline during the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71). In 1872, he was forced into liquidation after a ruinous settlement with the Rumanian government on account of unfulfilled railway contracts. Strousberg was declared bankrupt in 1875. After standing trial in Russia for alleged fraudulent transactions with a bank in 1876, he was deported and returned to Berlin, dividing his time between London and the castle in Bromberg whilst attempting his social rehabilitation with various projects and writing his memoirs.[1]
