Name Meyer Guggenheim | ||
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Children Solomon R. Guggenheim, Benjamin Guggenheim, Daniel Guggenheim, Simon Guggenheim Great grandchildren Pegeen Vail Guggenheim, Diane Hamilton, Michael Cedric Sindbad Vail Similar People Benjamin Guggenheim, Solomon R Guggenheim, Daniel Guggenheim, Simon Guggenheim, Harry Frank Guggenheim | ||
Meyer Guggenheim (February 1, 1828 – March 15, 1905) was the patriarch of what became known as the Guggenheim family.
Biography
He was born in Lengnau, Aargau, Switzerland on February 1, 1828. He was of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry and emigrated to the United States in 1847. He started out in the importing business, but made his and his family's fortune (which was one of the largest fortunes of the 19th century) in mining and smelting.
Guggenheim invested in silver mines of the Leadville mining district of Colorado. From mining he expanded into ore smelting, also in Colorado, then built a number of smelters across the US and in northern Mexico. As his sons grew up, they took leading roles in the family mining and smelting business.
Guggenheim and his wife Barbara had ten surviving children. Five of his seven sons were active in the family businesses:
His other two sons were Benjamin (1865–1912), who died in the Titanic disaster, and William.