Baron Jean–Henri Hottinguer

Jean-Henri Hottinguer
Born	Template:Birth date
Died	1866
Occupation(s)	Banker, businessman
Known for	Leadership of Banque Hottinguer & Cie; founding roles in Compagnie Royale d’Assurance Maritime, Caisse d’Epargne, Compagnie Générale des Eaux, Ottoman Bank

Baron Jean-Henri Hottinguer (born 25 January 1803, died 1866) was the eldest son and designated successor of Baron Jean-Conrad Hottinguer. In 1818, he departed from Paris to acquire practical business knowledge by working at Lloyd's and the London Stock Exchange. At the age of 23, he traveled to America to establish connections that would later support his entrepreneurial activities before returning to France to collaborate with his father in managing their banking enterprise.

The year 1816 saw Banque Hottinguer & Cie diversify into the insurance sector through the creation of the Compagnie Royale d’Assurance Maritime. Among its principal founders were Jacques Laffitte, Benjamin Delessert, and Hottinguer himself. Later on, Delessert and Banque Hottinguer & Cie jointly founded the Caisse d’Epargne, recognized as France’s inaugural savings institution catering to small-scale investors.

Upon his father’s retirement in 1833, Jean-Henri assumed leadership of Banque Hottinguer & Cie. In 1858, he wed Caroline Delessert, daughter of Baron Delessert. After Benjamin Delessert passed away in 1848, Jean-Henri took over the management of the Delessert Bank, thereby uniting the family’s banking ventures.

Jean-Henri was instrumental in launching several significant companies: he participated in founding the Compagnie Générale des Eaux in 1852 (which later became part of Veolia) and supported the establishment of France’s initial railway system. In 1863, he partnered with other prominent banking families to create the Ottoman Bank in Istanbul, an institution that eventually transformed into the Australia and New Zealand bank.

He passed away at age 63 in 1866 and was succeeded by his son Baron Rodolphe Hottinguer (1835-1920).