Emmanuel Lipmann

Emmanuel Isaac Lipmann (1830 – 20 January 1913) was a French entrepreneur and watchmaker. He founded the Lip watch factory in Besançon in 1867 and led it until his death in 1913.

Biography

Very few sources survive about Lipmann’s early life. He was born into an Alsatian Jewish family of watchmakers. In 1867 he established his watchmaking workshop in Besançon, giving the company the drive to become one of the leading industrial watch brands in France. Between the 1960s and 1970s the factory became famous for the Lip workers’ protest, widely covered by the press at the time.

In his later years Lipmann devoted himself to charitable work in Besançon, and served as vice-president of the Central Consistory of French Jews. He died in Besançon on 20 January 1913.

Family

In October 1868 Lipmann married Caroline Geismar. They had three children:

• Ernest David Lipmann (2 August 1869 – 27 November 1943), who inherited the Lip company and was made Commander of the Legion of Honor. He and his wife were arrested on 5 November 1943, interned at Drancy, and deported to Auschwitz, where he died.
• Camille Isaac Lipmann (16 May 1872 – 22 August 1947), who also worked in the family firm.
• Jenny Lipmann.

See also

• Lip (watch brand)