Louis Louis-Dreyfus

Louis Louis-Dreyfus
Born (1867-09-06)September 6, 1867
Zurich
Died November 10, 1940(1940-11-10) (aged 73)
Cannes
Nationality French
Known for Co-director of Louis Dreyfus Group; member of French Parliament
Spouse(s) Emma Lévi
Children Jean Louis-Dreyfus
François Louis-Dreyfus
Parent(s) Emilie Lang
Léopold Louis-Dreyfus

Louis Louis-Dreyfus (September 6, 1867 - November 10, 1940) was a member of the French parliament and co-director of the commodity distribution and trading company, Louis Dreyfus Group.

Biography

Louis-Dreyfus was born in Zurich to a Jewish family, the eldest of three sons of Léopold Louis-Dreyfus (1833-1915) and Emilie Lang (1840-1918).[1] His brothers were Charles Louis-Dreyfus (1870-1929) and Robert Louis-Dreyfus (1877-1907).[1] In 1851, his father, the son of a farmer from Alsace, founded the commodity distributor and trader Louis Dreyfus Group growing the business to the point that in 1900, it was the world's largest grain distributor.[2] After obtaining his law degree, he joined the family business.[3] In 1915, his father died turning over the family company to sons Louis and Charles who served as co-Directors.[2] In 1917, the Louis Dreyfus Group was forced out of Russia by the Russian Revolution[2] catalyzing their international expansion.[4] During World War I, the firm expanded into the maritime arms trade supplying the belligerents to war.[4] In 1924, they expanded to South Africa and in the 20s and 30s built up their own shipping company, LD Lines. Known as the "King of Wheat," the Dreyfus Group dominated the grain trade through the Great Depression and up to the outbreak of World War II[4] purchasing grain at low cost in producing countries and selling at a higher price in countries that had shortages.[4]

Louis-Dreyfus served in the French Parliament during the French Third Republic as a Deputy from Lozère from 1905-1910, a Deputy from Alpes-Maritimes from 1930 to 1936, and a Senator from Alpes-Maritimes from 1937 to 1940.[3] He was a member of the Independents of the Left from 1930-1936. The Independents of the Left were one of a number of parliamentary groups that made up the Democratic Republican Alliance between 1928 and 1936.

Louis-Dreyfus and his brother were shareholders in the French Communist paper l'Humanite.[4]

Personal life

In 1906 he married Emma Lévi (born 1885); they had two children: Jean Louis-Dreyfus (1908-2003) and François Louis-Dreyfus (1910-1958).[5] He was nicknamed King Two Louis by journalist Léon Daudet[4] and - thanks to his wealth and very public profile as both a politician and businessmen - was often referred to as the "Richest Man in France."[4] Dreyfus died in 1940 in Cannes in a carriage accident.[4] After Louis Louis-Dreyfus' death in 1940, his son Jean, and his two nephews, François Louis-Dreyfus (1909-1958) and Pierre Louis-Dreyfus (1908-2011) took over the family company.[6][4]

References

  1. 1 2 The Cyclopedia of India: biographical, historical, administrative, commercial retrieved August 16, 2013
  2. 1 2 3 Funding Universe: "Groupe Louis Dreyfus S.A. History" retrieved August 16, 2013
  3. 1 2 Ancien sénateur des Alpes-Maritimes August 17, 2013
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Callil, By Carmen Bad Faith: A Forgotten History of Family, Fatherland and Vichy France
  5. ↑ Who's Who In France: "Biographie Jean Louis-dreyfus" retrieved August 17, 2013
  6. ↑ LD Commodites website: "Our heritage" retrieved August 17, 2013
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