Aron Mendel and
Marcus Leidesdorf amassed wealth by being suppliers to the military
during French and Napoleonic Wars (1769-1820). Being a key supplier
during the War of Liberations in 1813-14 earned them the approval to
be knighted – Marcus became Edler von Neuwall in 1817. Previous
requests to be knighted were refused because Jews were not allowed
to own land prior to that time in Vienna, Austria.
Just like Samuel D. Leidesdorf passed on his philanthropic ways to
his son Arthur many years later in the U.S., Menachem Mendel
Leidesdorf, who was President of the Preßburg, Austria Jewish
Community for many years, instilled the same in Aron and Marcus who
became two of the wealthiest members of Vienna Jewish Community.
Aron was the Honorary Director of Vienna Jewish Community Hospital
(known as the Rothschild Hospital before it was destroyed in World
War II) for 40 years, which paralleled Samuel Leidesdorf support of
New York City’s University Hospital.
While Marcus remained Jewish his entire life, the glamour of
nobility caused Marcus’ children to convert to Christianity during
his lifetime. This must have been very difficult for him to deal
with.
Click here for next
slide.
