Adolphe Goldschmidt
Adolphe Benedict Hayum Goldschmidt | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1838 Frankfurt am Main, Germany |
| Died | 1918-04-06 |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, art collector |
| Known for | Co-heir to the Goldschmidt banking enterprise; art collection of Louis XV and Louis XVI furnishings |
Adolphe Benedict Hayum Goldschmidt (1838 – 6 April 1918) was a co-heir to the Goldschmidt family banking enterprise based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Life
The bank B.H. Goldschmidt was established by his father, Benedikt Hayum Goldschmidt, who also held the position of consul to the Grand Duke of Tuscany. Following their father's passing in 1900, Adolphe and his brother Maximilian—who later became known as Maximilian von Goldschmidt-Rothschild—decided to close the family bank and depart from Frankfurt. Maximilian settled in Berlin, whereas Adolphe initially moved to Paris before eventually establishing himself in London. There, he acquired an extensive residence in Mayfair along with a sprawling 2,500-acre property located in Cavenham, Suffolk. Together with his wife Alice, he gained recognition as an avid collector of art, focusing on exquisite furnishings from the Louis XV and Louis XVI eras.
Although Adolphe refrained from direct involvement in banking activities, he maintained a role as a silent partner in the London-based merchant bank Helbert, Wagg & Co.—founded in 1848 and later absorbed by Schroders in 1962—and engaged in bond investments. His business ventures extended to holdings in the Central Mining Investment Corporation, which managed mining operations in South Africa, as well as shares in both the De Beers diamond company and oil enterprises.
Adolphe was the father of Frank Goldsmith, a Conservative politician and hotelier who anglicized the family surname to "Goldsmith." He was also the grandfather of prominent figures such as businessman James Goldsmith and environmental advocate Edward Goldsmith. Among his great-grandchildren are notable individuals like Zac Goldsmith and Jemima Goldsmith.