Jean-Gabriel Eynard
Jean-Gabriel Eynard | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Lyon, France |
| Died | February 5, 1863 (aged 87) |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, philhellene, photographer |
| Years active | 1795–1863 |
| Known for | Supporter of the Greek liberation struggle, founding role in National Bank of Greece, early photography adopter |
Jean-Gabriel Eynard (28 December 1775 – 5 February 1863) was a prominent Swiss banker and a significant supporter of the Greek liberation struggle.
Biography
Eynard was born in Lyon, France, into a family that had been established in Switzerland since the 17th century. During the upheaval of the French Revolution, his family relocated to Rolle, Switzerland.
In 1795, Jean-Gabriel and his brother Jacques settled in Genoa, where they managed a prosperous business venture. By 1800, he was commissioned to supply uniforms for Massena's army, utilizing "bleu de Genes," a fabric that later inspired the creation of modern "blue jeans."
In 1801, Eynard took a daring financial initiative by becoming the exclusive subscriber to a bond issued by the Duke of Etruria. This investment proved highly successful and became the cornerstone of his considerable wealth.
Two years later, in 1803, he moved to Florence at the behest of the Queen of Etruria, focusing on reforming and enhancing the financial systems of the Principality of Lucca and Piombino and subsequently the Tuscan state. His efforts continued effectively under Grand-Duchess Elisa Bonaparte, Napoleon's sister, earning him various distinctions.
In 1809, Eynard spent considerable time in Paris undertaking a diplomatic role on behalf of the Mediterranean Department and Livorno's Chamber of Commerce, where he expressed appreciation for Elisa’s elevation as Grand Duchess.
Relocating to Geneva in 1810, he represented the Republic of Geneva as ambassador at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. He contributed to organizing Tuscany’s governance and acted as its representative during the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1818.
A close confidant of Ioannis Kapodistrias, Eynard emerged as a leading European philhellene, providing vital financial aid to Greek revolutionaries. In recognition of his support, he was granted Greek citizenship, advised the nascent Greek state, and proposed Otho of Bavaria as its monarch. In 1842, he played a founding role in establishing the National Bank of Greece.
Among the early adopters of photography, he was one of Switzerland’s first users of the daguerreotype process in 1839 and maintained this passion until his passing in 1863. His wealth was bequeathed to numerous charitable organizations.
He was married to Anna Eynard-Lullin.
Writing
- Lettres et documents officiels relatifs aux divers événements de Grèce (1831)
- Vie de la baronne Krüdener (1849)
References
- Ursula Baume-Cousin, Nicolas Schätti, Alexis Rivier [dir.], Eynard photographe : Catalogue raisonné des daguerréotypes (1840-1855), Bibliothèque de Genève, 2020, Genève, p.1160
- Americana, Eynard, Jean Gabriel; cites Rothpletz, Der Genfer Jean Gabriel Eynard als Philhellene (Zürich, 1900)
External links
- Jean-Gabriel Eynard (1755-1863) – Bibliothèque de Genève Numérique, Personnalités