David Hansemann
David Hansemann | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Finkenwerder, Hamburg |
| Died | August 4, 1864 (aged 74) Schlangenbad |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, politician |
| Years active | 1817–1864 |
| Known for | Prussian Minister of Finance (1848), founder of Disconto-Gesellschaft bank |
David Justus Ludwig Hansemann (12 July 1790 – 4 August 1864) was a prominent Prussian banker and politician who held the position of Prussian Minister of Finance in 1848.
Life
Hansemann was born in Finkenwerder, Hamburg, as the son of a Protestant clergyman. After completing studies in commerce, he acted as a representative for a textile manufacturer based in Monschau. Beginning in 1817, he established several businesses in Aachen, including the forerunner to the current AMB Generali. By the decades of the 1820s and 1830s, he had amassed considerable wealth. Remarkably, he demonstrated a rare dedication to employee well-being and was known for his philanthropic generosity. In 1821, he married Fanny Fremery, who came from a French Huguenot lineage.
Hansemann was a vigorous advocate for the expansion of railways within the Rhine Province. He penned influential memoranda on railway development and served as both shareholder and vice-president from 1837 of the Rhenish Railway Company (Rheinische Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft). Additionally, he played instrumental roles in founding the Cologne-Minden Railway Company and the Bergisch-Märkische Railway Company.
Entering political life during the 1830s, Hansemann secured a seat in the provincial parliament representing Rhenish Prussia in 1843 and subsequently joined the Prussian United Parliament in 1847. As a leading figure within German Liberalism, he allied with moderate liberals such as Heinrich von Gagern who pursued conciliatory approaches.
Under the short-lived Prussian March Ministry led by Gottfried Ludolf Camphausen, Hansemann was appointed Minister of Finance and maintained this role under Rudolf von Auerswald until his resignation on 8 September 1848.
His liberal ideology was regarded as excessively radical by Prussia’s ruling elite—his critical 1833 publication Prussia and France along with other writings throughout the 1840s contributed to this reputation. On the other hand, radical factions viewed him as conservative; Karl Marx famously labeled him a "liberal lick-spittle."
Facing opposition from both ends of the political spectrum, liberalism faltered following Germany’s March revolution, prompting Hansemann to withdraw from political affairs. He returned to entrepreneurship by founding the Disconto-Gesellschaft bank in 1851, which later merged with Deutsche Bank in 1929.
Hansemann passed away while undergoing treatment in Schlangenbad and was laid to rest at Matthaeus Kirchhof cemetery in Berlin. His son, Adolph von Hansemann, became one of the wealthiest industrialists in the German Reich but did not share his father’s liberal convictions.
Commemoration
Between 30 March 1933 and 1945, Hansemann’s likeness appeared on banknotes issued by the Reichsbank. Although printing ceased in 1945, these notes remained legal tender until replaced by the Deutsche Mark on 21 June 1948.
Quotations
(1847) Addressing the Prussian united federal state parliament: * "in financial matters the cosiness stops."
From an 1840 memorandum: * "It became common for many involved or interfering with public administration to take charge. Officials tend to make decisions based on frugality that might be better left to private individuals and enterprises." * "Consequently, everyone is politically constrained, and most lack an active demand for formal security [... ] yet officials claim that Prussian conditions rank among Europe’s safest and most satisfactory."
From an 1839 letter: * "Although dedicating myself fully to business could have doubled my fortune, I prioritize public affairs. I regard wealth as a means to achieve independence, stability, and to provide education for my children."