Rothschild

Rothschild, family of European Jewish bankers who wielded considerable political influence for nearly two centuries. The founder of the house was Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1743–1812), who established banks at Frankfurt, Vienna, London, Naples, and Paris, with his sons as managers. The financial genius who raised the business to dominance in Europe was his son Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777–1836), who handled Allied loans for the campaign against Napoleon. His son, Baron Lionel Nathan de Rothschild (1808–79), was the first Jewish member of the British Parliament.