Background
Guggenheim, Meyer was born on February 1, 1828 in Langnau, Switzerland.
Guggenheim, Meyer was born on February 1, 1828 in Langnau, Switzerland.
He was of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry and emigrated to the United States in 1847. He started out in the importing business, but made his and his family's fortune (which was one of the largest fortunes of the 19th century) in mining and smelting. Guggenheim invested in silver mines of the Leadville mining district of Colorado.
From mining he expanded into ore smelting, also in Colorado, then built a number of smelters across the US and in northern Mexico. Isaac (1854–1922)
Murry (1858–1939), originally in the lace and embroidery import business and by 1881, involved in mining and smelting
Solomon Robert (1861–1949), a supporter of modern art through his foundation and donations to the Museum of Modern Art
(John) Simon (1867–1941), a one-term senator from Colorado
His other two sons were Benjamin (1865–1912), who died in the Titanic disaster, and William.
