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James de Rothschild, born May 15, 1792 in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany – died November 15, 1868 in Paris, France , was a banker and a member of the prominent Rothschild family.
James de Rothschild was the fifth son and youngest child of Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1744-1812). James de Rothschild moved to Paris in 1811 and in 1817 expanded the family banking empire to the city, opening "Rothschild Frères." An advisor to two Kings of France, he became the most powerful banker in the country and following the Napoleonic Wars, played a major role in financing the construction of railroads and the mining business that helped make France an industrial power. Along the way, James de Rothschild amassed a fortune, that over 50 years, made him one of the richest men in the world.
In 1822, James de Rothschild, along with his four brothers, was created baron by Austria's Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor.
On July 11, 1824 in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany, Baron James de Rothschild married Betty Salomon de Rothschild (1805-1886), the daughter of his brother, Salomon Rothschild (1774-1855) and Caroline Stern (1782-1854). They had the following children:
In 1854, Baron James de Rothschild commissioned the famous architect Joseph Paxton to build a grand château in the south-west of Paris. Named "Ferrières," it was home to James and some of his descendants until 1975 when it was gifted by the family to the Sorbonne.
In addition to his banking business, in 1868 James de Rothschild purchased Château Lafite, one of France's most outstanding vineyards. Located in the Bordeaux region, it is a business that remains in the family to this day. Beyond his business activities, James de Rothschild used his enormous wealth for philanthropic works and became a leader of French Jewry. James' contributions to France, along with those of his offspring can be found in many fields, including medicine and the arts.
Baron James de Rothschild died in 1868, just three months after purchasing the Chateau Lafite vineyard. His sons Alphonse and Gustave took control of the French business empire.
Over the years, the power of the bank that James Rothschild built by funding loans to European governments began to decline during the latter part of the 19th century following the introduction of new methods for government financing. Still highly successful, the Rothschilds were a major force in banking until it was nationalized in 1982 by the French government. Out of this, a successor company called Rothschild & Cie Banque, run by Eric de Rothschild and his cousin David de Rothschild, evolved to become a leading investment house.
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