:Meyer Guggenheim

Guggenheim was born in Lengnau, Aargau, Switzerland, on February 1, 1828. He was the son of Simon Meyer Guggenheim and Schafeli (née Levinger) Guggenheim and was of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. He had five siblings. Guggenheim's family fell into poverty when his father had to give up his job to care for Guggenheim's sick mother.{{Cite web |last=Strasser |first=Matthias |date=2024-03-25 |title=From Aargau to New York: the story of the Guggenheim family |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-abroad/from-aargau-to-new-york-the-story-of-the-guggenheim-family-swiss-connection/74090226 |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch |language=en}} His mother eventually died when Meyer was 6 years old.{{Cite web |last=Strasser |first=Matthias |date=2024-03-25 |title=From Aargau to New York: the story of the Guggenheim family |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-abroad/from-aargau-to-new-york-the-story-of-the-guggenheim-family-swiss-connection/74090226 |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch |language=en}} As a child, Meyer sold articles door-to-door after school to support his family. His father hoped to remarry with Rachel Weil, a widow. However, due to his father's poverty, restrictions in Switzerland stopped them from getting married. This forced the family to emigrate to the United States, where no such restrictions on marriage applied.

After emigrating from Switzerland in 1847 to the United States, he launched a new life in the importing business. He ultimately made his fortune (one of the largest of the 19th century) through business ventures in mining and smelting, mostly in the United States.{{cite encyclopedia |url = http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/248426/Meyer-Guggenheim|title = Meyer Guggenheim |encyclopedia= Encyclopedia |publisher = Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date = April 5, 2013}}

After investing in silver mines in the Leadville mining district of Colorado, he expanded into ore smelting in Colorado. He built a number of smelters across the United States and in northern Mexico. As his several sons grew up, they assumed leading roles in the family mining and smelting business.National Mining Hall of Fame, [http://www.mininghalloffame.org/inductee.asp?i=32&b=inductees%2Easp&t=n&p=G&s= Meyer Guggenheim], accessed January 13, 2014

Guggenheim met Barbara Weil (1834–1900), the daughter of his new stepmother, and married her four years later around 1852.{{cite book |last1=Reme |first1=Jim |last2=Navarra |first2=Tova |last3=R.N |first3=Tova Navarra |title=Monmouth University |date=2002 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=978-0-7385-1010-1 |page=29 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z93qr5lMTggC&pg=PA29 |access-date=September 11, 2019 |language=en}} Together, they were the parents of ten surviving children.

Five of their seven sons were active in the family businesses, including:{{cite book |last1=Davis |first1=John H. |title=The Guggenheims: An American Epic |date=1994 |publisher=S.P.I. Books |location=New York |isbn=978-1-56171-351-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/guggenheims00john |url-access=registration |access-date=September 11, 2019 |language=en}}

• Isaac Guggenheim (1854–1922), who married Carrie Sonneborn in 1876.{{cite news |title=ISAAC GUGGENHEIM DIES IN ENGLAND; Overcome by Sudden Illness After Greeting a Friend in Southampton. LEADER IN MINING INDUSTRY Identified With Large Industrial Interests of His Family--Body to Be Brought Here. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1922/10/11/102995950.pdf |access-date=September 11, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=October 11, 1922}}
• Daniel Guggenheim (1856–1930), head of the family after his father's death, who was the most active of his sons in developing and acquiring worldwide mining interests.{{cite news |title=DANIEL GUGGENHEIM DIES SUDDENLY AT 74 OF HEART DISEASE Philanthropist, Capitalist and Patron of the Arts Succumbs at Port Washington Home. SET UP AERONAUTICS FUND $2,500,000 Gift the Basis of Important Research—Liberal Donor to Many Charities. HE WON WEALTH IN MINING A Friend of Labor, He Had Wide Interests in Industry—Leaders in Many Fields Pay Tribute. A Life of Usefulness. DANIEL GUGGENHEIM DIES SUDDENLY AT 74 Began Work in Switzerland. Was Progressive in Business. Many Business Connections. An Ardent Humanitarian. Devoted to Art. Aeronautics School Created. PHILANTHROPIST CALLED BY DEATH. BRITISH PRAISE GUGGENHEIM. Newspapers Pay Tribute to His Aid to Aviation. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1930/09/29/97822526.pdf |access-date=September 11, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=September 29, 1930}}
• Maurice Guggenheim (1858–1939), originally in the lace and embroidery import business; by 1881, he was a financier involved in mining and smelting.{{cite news |title=M. GUGGENHEIM, 81, FINANCIER, IS DEAD Senior Member of the Family Company Was Son of Mining and Smelting Leader NOTED FOR HIS CHARITIES Founder of Dental Clinic and Patron of Music—Served in Many Directorships Founded a Foundation Became Smelting Director $1,900,000 in Grants |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1939/11/16/107124686.pdf |access-date=September 11, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=November 16, 1939}}
• Solomon Robert Guggenheim (1861–1949), a supporter of modern art through his foundation and donations to the Museum of Modern Art.{{cite news |title=S. R. GUGGENHEIM, MINE OWNER, DIES -- Last of Famous Brothers, Known as an Art Patron, Was 88 Years Old |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1949/11/03/84227613.pdf |access-date=September 11, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=November 3, 1949}}
• Jeanette Guggenheim (1863–1889), married Albert Gerstle and died in childbirth.{{cite book |last1=Hoy |first1=Edwin Palmer |title=The Guggenheims and the American Dream |date=1967 |publisher=Funk & Wagnalls |page=267 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iFeyAAAAIAAJ |access-date=September 11, 2019 |language=en}}
• Benjamin Guggenheim (1865–1912),{{cite news |title=GUGGENHEIM, DYING, SENT WIFE MESSAGE Tried to Do His Duty, He Asked Steward to Tell Her. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1912/04/20/100361986.pdf |access-date=September 11, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=April 20, 1912}} who died in the Titanic disaster. He married Florette Seligman.{{cite news |title=W. SELIGMAN KILLS HIMSELF IN A HOTEL; Son of Founder of J. & W. Seligman & Co. Found Dead at the Gerard. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1912/02/13/100516883.pdf |access-date=September 11, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=February 13, 1912}}
• John Simon Guggenheim (1867–1941), a one-term senator from Colorado.{{cite news |title=S.GUGGENHEIM, 73, FINANCIER, IS DEAD; One of 7 Famous Brothers, Was Smelting Firm Head, an Ex-Senator, Philanthropist |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/11/04/104305805.pdf |access-date=September 11, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=November 4, 1941}}
• William Guggenheim (1868–1941){{cite news |title=WM. GUGGENHEIM, INDUSTRIALIST, DIES; Philanthropist Was Youngest of Meyer Guggenheim's 7 Sons--Stricken Here ALSO KNOWN AS AUTHOR Managed His Father's Mining Interests in Mexico Before Retirement in 1901 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/06/28/99235557.pdf |access-date=September 11, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=June 28, 1941}}
• Rose Guggenheim (1871–1945),{{cite news |title=Mrs. Rose G. Quicke |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1945/02/15/88194337.pdf |access-date=September 11, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=February 15, 1945}} who married three times; first to Albert Loeb (head of the New York Stock Exchange), second to Samuel M. Goldsmith in 1908, and third to Charles E. Quicke.{{cite news |title=MRS. ROSE LOEB WED TO CAPT. C.E. QUICKE Married in the Ritz Apartment of the Bride's Brother, Daniel Guggenheim. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1924/12/12/101627053.pdf |access-date=September 11, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=December 12, 1924}}
• Cora Gwendalyn Guggenheim (1873–1956), who married to Louis Frank Rothschild, founder of L.F. Rothschild.{{cite news |title=MRS. ROTHSCHILD DEAD; Last of the 9 Children of Meyer Guggenheim Was 83 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1956/12/14/86967347.html?pageNumber=29 |access-date=September 11, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=December 14, 1956}}

After his wife's death in 1900, Guggenheim and his sons provided $200,000 to Mount Sinai Hospital for the construction of a hospital in her honor.{{cite news |title=$200,000 GIFT TO MT. SINAI Meyer Guggenheim and His Sons Provide for a New Hospital. Directors Yesterday Voted to Accept the Donation with Its Conditions — Memorial to Mrs. Guggenheim. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1900/04/23/102587685.pdf |access-date=September 11, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=April 23, 1900}} Guggenheim died on March 15, 1905, in Palm Beach, Florida.{{cite news |title=MEYER GUGGENHEIM, SMELTER KING, DEAD; Severe Cold Terminated Fatally at Palm Beach. HAD REMARKABLE CAREER Started as Stove Polish Vendor and Finally, with His Seven Sons, Built Up Great Smelting Industry. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1905/03/17/102133209.pdf |access-date=September 11, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=March 17, 1905}} He was interred at the Salem Fields Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.{{cite news |title=MEYER GUGGENHEIM BURIED. "His Success Was Not by Tearing Down" Says Dr. Silverman |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1905/03/20/223718032.pdf |access-date=September 11, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=March 20, 1905}}

Through his son Benjamin, Guggenheim was a grandfather of art collector and socialite Peggy Guggenheim.{{Cite web|url=https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/peggy-guggenheim-dead-81-modern-art-collection.html|title=Peggy Guggenheim Is Dead at 81; Known for Modern Art Collection|last=Shenker|first=Israel|date=December 24, 1979|website=Encyclopedia Titanica}}

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• [http://www.mininghalloffame.org/inductee.asp?i=32&b=inductees%2Easp&t=n&p=G&s= National Mining Hall of Fame: Meyer Guggenheim]
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Category:1828 births

Category:1905 deaths

Category:People from Zurzach District

Category:Swiss Ashkenazi Jews

Category:19th-century American businesspeople

Category:American people of German-Jewish descent

Category:American people of Swiss-Jewish descent

Category:American businesspeople in metals

Category:American mining businesspeople

Meyer Guggenheim

Category:Swiss emigrants to the United States

Category:Burials at Salem Fields Cemetery