Rothschild, Salomon Meyer Freiherr von#

Rothschild, Baron Salomon Meyer von, b. Frankfurt am Main (Germany), Sept. 9, 1774, d. Paris (France), July 28, 1855, banker; father of Baron Anselm Salomon von Rothschild. Founded the first R. bank in Vienna in 1820. The bank considerably influenced the process of industrialisation in Austria, financed the first railway constructions and was the most important financial backer of the state (through close relations with Metternich and F. von Gentz) as well as of the Austrian nobility. Until the revolution of 1848, the bank's political influence increased steadily due to its bond issue operations.