Carl Abegg known as Carl Abegg-Arter (/ɑːbəɡɡ/; April 10, 1836 – August 23, 1912) was a Swiss industrialist, silk merchant and banker. He was the founder of Abegg & Co in 1885, a leading silk trading house. He was also a co-founder of Zurich Insurance Group,[1] Chemins de fer Orientaux (railways). Most prominently, he served as the chairman of Schweizerische Kreditanstalt (today Credit Suisse), between 1883 and 1911.[2] Abegg has been widely considered the richest Swiss citizen at the time.[3][4]
Carl Abegg-Arter | |
|---|---|
 Oil portrait of Abegg by Leon Bonnat | |
| Born | Carl Abegg April 10, 1836 |
| Died | August 23, 1912 (aged 76) |
| Resting place | Enzenbühl Cemetery, Zürich, Switzerland |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Known for | Founding and leading Abegg & Co, chairman of Schweizerische Kreditanstalt |
| Spouse |
Emma Auguste Arter (m. 1859) |
| Children | 3 |
| Signature | |
 | |
Early life and education
Abegg was born April 10, 1836, to cloth merchant Hans Caspar and Anna Regula (née Bleuler) Abegg. His father was the mayor of Küsnacht. His maternal grandfather served a term as mayor as well and was the president of the local guild court.[5][6]
He completed the Industrial School of Zürich, where he completed his Matura. Between 1852 and 1855, he was sent to Milan, Italian Empire, where he learned the silk trading business in an apprenticeship at the company Heinrich Fierz-Etzweiler. After his return he briefly worked at the silk factory Salomon Rütschi & Compagnie in Hottingen.[7]
Career
In 1857, aged 21, he was sent to New York City to represent his employer Salomon Rütschi & Compagnie.[8] In 1861, he and August Rübel, whom he met in the United States, formed Abegg & Rübel, which was primarily active in silk, commodities and banking, and can be seen as predecessor company of today's Abegg & Co.[9] This company was turned into the current partnership in 1885.[10]
Since 1868, Abegg was a member of the Schweizerische Kreditanstalt (Credit Suisse), and served as president/chairman between 1883 and 1911. He was the vice-president and co-founder of Zurich Insurance Group, a board member of Gotthard railway in 1890, a board member of the Silk Weavery Höngg in 1890. Between 1895 and 1911, Abegg was also the president of Elektrobank/Elektrowatt and in 1910 briefly a member of Chemins de fer Orientaux (railways)[11] Abegg was also a long-term member of the Zurich Court of Commerce.
Personal life
On October 4, 1859, Abegg married Emma Auguste Arter,[12] a daughter of Solomon Arter of Hottingen. They had three children;
- Carl Abegg (October 20, 1860 – September 16, 1943),[13] principal owner of Abegg & Co and board member of several companies, married Anna Henriette Stockar (1868-1969), divorced 1937; three children; Carl Julius Abegg (1891-1973), Hilda Eleonore Anna "Annie" Abegg (1897-1996) and Werner Abegg (1903-1984).
- August Augusto Abegg (December 31, 1861 – November 2, 1924),[14] most important 'cotton manufacturer' in Northern Italy and pioneer in the industrial manufacturing of viscose/rayon.
- Emma Lina Abegg (March 23, 1869 – December 9, 1949),[15] who would marry Wilhelm Caspar Escher (1859–1929), who was a banker and board member of several companies such as Nestlé and Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company[16]
Abegg-Arter resided at Villa Seeburg in Hottingen (Zürich).
References
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