Michel Ephrussi
Michel Ephrussi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Odessa, Russian Empire |
| Died | January 5, 1914 (aged 69) |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, investor, racehorse owner |
| Known for | Banking; Thoroughbred horse racing |
Michel Ephrussi (May 10, 1844 – January 5, 1914) was a French banker and investor of Russian origin, also recognized for his involvement in breeding and racing Thoroughbred horses.
Early life
Michel was born in Odessa, within the Russian Empire, into the influential Ephrussi family. His father, Charles Joachim Ephrussi, originally engaged in wheat trading before founding the banking enterprise Ephrussi & Co.. Michel's elder half-brother, Ignace von Ephrussi, further developed the business by launching a branch in Vienna, Austria.
Career
Alongside his younger sibling Maurice Ephrussi, Michel played a key role in establishing the Parisian branch of Ephrussi & Co., thereby enhancing the family's financial operations in France.
In addition to banking, Michel held investments in real estate, notably including the Hôtel Pompadour at Fontainebleau, and had interests in Guapo Trinidad Oil Co. Ltd. Demonstrating support for pioneering technologies, he sponsored a prize at the 1910 Rheims Aviation Meeting, underlining his enthusiasm for early aviation advancements.
Thoroughbred racing
Michel and Maurice actively participated in Thoroughbred horse racing. Michel owned Finasseur, which won the distinguished 1905 Grand Prix de Paris. His horses achieved numerous significant victories such as:
- Grand Prix de Bruxelles – Finasseur (1905)
- Grand Prix de Deauville – Polyeucte (1886), Naviculaire (1892), Biniou (1909)
- Grand Prix de Paris – Finasseur (1905)
- Prix du President de la Republique – Finasseur (1905)
- La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte – Ben (1907)
- Poule d'Essai des Poulains – Gamin (1886), Beaujolais (1894)
- Poule d'Essai des Pouliches – Barberine (1885), Primrose (1891)
- Prix Chaudenay – Naviculaire (1891), Fawn (1905)
- Prix du Rond Point – Précy (1883), Lézard (1909)
- Prix de Diane – Barberine (1885), Bavarde (1887), Primrose (1891)
- Prix des Chênes – Finasseur (1904)
- Prix du Jockey Club – Finasseur (1905)
- Prix du Prince d'Orange – Athos (1888), Biniou (1909)
- Prix Kergorlay – Brisolier (1887), Boissière (1893)
- Prix du Nabob – Gournay (1887), Primrose (1891)
- Prix Royal-Oak – Gamin (1886), Bavarde (1887), Pourtant (1889)
Personal life
On December 23, 1872, Michel married Amélie Wilhelmine "Liliane" Beer, a Belgian native and niece of composer Jacob Liebmann Beer, in Paris. The couple had three children and resided at 81 Rue de Monceau, located in Paris's 8th arrondissement.
Michel maintained close business relations with the Rothschild family; his brother Maurice was wed to Béatrice de Rothschild. In 1900, Michel became involved in a conflict concerning accusations of anti-Semitic comments made by Count Guy de Lubersac against Robert de Rothschild. On April 4 of that year, Ephrussi confronted the Count in a sword duel on the Île de la Jatte in the Seine River near Neuilly. Although wounded in the chest during the encounter, Michel recovered shortly thereafter.
Death
Michel Ephrussi passed away on January 5, 1914.