Henry Liebmann
Henry Liebmann | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Schmiedelfeld, Germany |
| Died | March 27, 1915 (aged 78) New York City, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Brewer, entrepreneur |
| Known for | President of S. Liebmann Brewery (later Rheingold Breweries) |
Henry Liebmann (December 6, 1836 – March 27, 1915) was a brewer of German origin who became an American entrepreneur and served as president of the S. Liebmann Brewery, which later operated under the name Rheingold Breweries in Brooklyn, New York. The brewery’s signature product, Rheingold Extra Dry, rose to prominence as one of the foremost beer labels in New York City during the mid-20th century, particularly from the 1940s through the 1960s.
Biography
Born Heinrich Liebmann in 1836 into a Jewish household in Schmiedelfeld, he was the son of Sara (née Selz) and Samuel Liebmann, proprietors of the Schloss Schmiedelfeld estate. In 1840, the family relocated to Ludwigsburg, where they managed the inn "Zum Stern" along with its brewery; it was here that Henry completed his secondary education. Due to political pressures, his father dispatched his brother Joseph to the United States in 1850 to establish a foothold, followed by the rest of the family in 1854, who settled in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Initially, they leased the Maasche Brewery before pooling their capital to construct the S. Liebmann Brewery in Bushwick.
Following Samuel Liebmann’s passing in 1872, Henry joined his brothers Joseph and Charles in overseeing the business operations, formalizing their partnership under S. Liebmann's Sons Brewing Company. Leadership responsibilities rotated annually among the brothers: Henry directed brewing processes, Joseph managed financial affairs, and Charles supervised operational matters. In 1903, all three retired and transferred control to their six sons.
Henry Liebmann passed away in New York City in 1915.
Personal life
On June 21, 1849, Henry married Emma Dellevie; together they had seven children:
- Sara Liebmann (born December 13, 1868), who married Morris Heimerdinger
- Harriet Liebmann (born April 11, 1870), wife of Joseph E. Heimerdinger
- Samuel Liebmann (born October 11, 1873), married Viola Salomon; father to two sons: Samuel Jr. (born 1907) and William B. (born 1912)
- Walter H. Liebmann (born November 19, 1874), married Lulu Waxelbaum; they had three children
- Charles Joseph Liebmann (born March 13, 1877), wed Aline Meyer (daughter of Marc Eugene Meyer); had two children
- Edward Liebmann (1876–1890)
- Kathleen Liebmann (born September 6, 1888), married Milton Jacob Bach