Ludwig von Stieglitz

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Ludwig Stieglitz, Russian: Людвиг Штиглиц (24 December 1779 in Arolsen, Germany – March 18 [O.S. 6 March] 1843, Saint Petersburg) was Jewish Russian commersant and founder of banking house Stieglitz & Company. He was born as youngest of three sons of Waldeck county's court Jew banker Hirsch Bernhard Stieglitz and his wife Edel Elisabeth (née Marcus). As a young man Stieglitz moved to Russia as a representative of his merchant house, and eventually was appointed court banker to the czar Alexander I, gaining influence and receiving various Russian decorations. After adopting Christianity he was raised to the dignity of a Russian hereditary baron on 22 August 1826 as Ludwig von Stieglitz.

Stieglitz continued as court banker to czar Nicholas I and took an active part in many financial affairs of his adopted country, investing in range of enterprizes including steam navigation between Lübeck and St. Petersburg. He purchased the estate of Gross-Essern in Courland, and on May 3, 1840 his name was inscribed in the register of the nobility of Courland. A contemporary has noted: "He was the German Rothschild of St. Petersburg, but in reality more; for he was not only rich in money, he was still richer in heart, and a noble benefactor in the best sense of the word." ^[1]

[edit] Personal life

Ludwig von Stieglitz married Amalie Angelica Christiane Gottschalk (26 July 1777, Hannover - 20 February 1838, St.Petersburg), their descendants were confirmed in the dignity of Russian hereditary barons by ukaz of the Senate of April 3, 1862:

Son Alexander was his successor as head of the bank (until the firm went into voluntary liquidation in 1863) and became head of the State Bank of the Russian Empire established in 1860.
Daughter Nathalie (17 October 1803, St.Petersburg - 17 May 1882, Frankfurt)