August Thyssen
Encyclopedia
August Thyssen (ˈaʊɡʊst ˈtʏsən) (Eschweiler
, 17 May 1842, – Schloss Landsberg bei Kettwig
, 4 April 1926) was a German
industrialist.
joined the bank
of his father Friedrich Thyssen
.
In 1867 Thyssen and several members of his family founded the iron works "Thyssen-Foussol & Co" in Duisburg
. When this company was dissolved in 1870, he used the new capital to establish with his father the "Walzwerk Thyssen & Co" that would become the base of an industrial empire in the industrialized Mülheim an der Ruhr, where the high of iron
and steel
prizes contributed to the making of his fortune. Initially he managed different companies separately in a decentralized fashion, but eventually he united them through a holding company
. The largest company of his was the coal mining company "Gewerkschaft Deutscher Kaiser" in Hamborn (now part of Duisburg
) that he had acquired in 1891.
He built the first 500-ton blast furnace
in Germany
, the first 100-ton Martin furnace, and the first large tube (iron pipe size
) works. Together with Hugo Stinnes
Thyssen was a cofounder of RWE.
On 3 December 1872 in Mülheim an der Ruhr he married Hedwig Pelzer (1854 – 1940), daughter of Johann-Heinrich Pelzer and wife Hedwig Troost. They divorced in 1885. The four children during the marriage were Fritz
, August, Heinrich and Hedwig. To avoid the possibility that his divorce would lead to a partitioning of his industrial empire, Thyssen transferred the property to his children, but retained the management rights for himself during his lifetime.
The Thyssen conglomerate
became the nucleus of Vereinigte Stahlwerke AG
, the biggest mining and steel cartel in the world, prior to World War II
. Thyssen was refounded in 1953 and joined with KruppHoesch to become ThyssenKrupp AG in 1997.
Thyssen purchased most of Beeckerwerth
, including Haus Knipp, in the early 20th century.
He was the first in his family to start acquiring a collection of works of art, including six pieces by sculptor Auguste Rodin
, who was his friend.
Thyssen's firm was a vertically integrated
company, controlling all aspects of the steelmaking process. He owned his own fleet of ships, a network of docks and a railroad. Although he was one of the richest men in Germany, he lived a simple life. He ran his empire from a dingy office in Mülheim, wore store-bought suits and was known to drink and eat with his workers. He was also an ardent republican
.
Thyssen died in 1926 of pneumonia
following complications from eye surgery
.
Eschweiler
Eschweiler is a municipality in the district of Aachen in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany on the river Inde, near the German-Belgian-Dutch frontier, and about 15 km east of Aachen and 50 km west of Cologne.- History :...
, 17 May 1842, – Schloss Landsberg bei Kettwig
Kettwig
Kettwig is the southernmost borough of the city of Essen in western Germany and, until 1975, was a town in its own right. Kettwig is situated next to the Ruhr river, at a median height of 53 metres above sea level. It is the most recently incorporated borough of Essen and also the largest in size,...
, 4 April 1926) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
industrialist.
Career and marriage
After he had completed his studies at the Polytechnische Schule Karlsruhe and a commercial school at Antwerp he like his brother Joseph ThyssenJoseph Thyssen
Joseph Thyssen, also Josef Thyssen , was a German industrialist. He was the son of Friedrich Thyssen and the younger brother of August Thyssen, who was also his closest colleague and confidant.After working with his brother in the banking business of their father, Thyssen was co-owner since 1877 of...
joined the bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
of his father Friedrich Thyssen
Friedrich Thyssen
Johann Friedrich Thyssen was a German banker and patriarch of the Thyssen family dynasty.-Family:He was the son of Nikolaus Thyssen and wife Christine Nellessen...
.
In 1867 Thyssen and several members of his family founded the iron works "Thyssen-Foussol & Co" in Duisburg
Duisburg
- History :A legend recorded by Johannes Aventinus holds that Duisburg, was built by the eponymous Tuisto, mythical progenitor of Germans, ca. 2395 BC...
. When this company was dissolved in 1870, he used the new capital to establish with his father the "Walzwerk Thyssen & Co" that would become the base of an industrial empire in the industrialized Mülheim an der Ruhr, where the high of iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
and steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
prizes contributed to the making of his fortune. Initially he managed different companies separately in a decentralized fashion, but eventually he united them through a holding company
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
. The largest company of his was the coal mining company "Gewerkschaft Deutscher Kaiser" in Hamborn (now part of Duisburg
Duisburg
- History :A legend recorded by Johannes Aventinus holds that Duisburg, was built by the eponymous Tuisto, mythical progenitor of Germans, ca. 2395 BC...
) that he had acquired in 1891.
He built the first 500-ton blast furnace
Blast furnace
A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical furnace used for smelting to produce industrial metals, generally iron.In a blast furnace, fuel and ore and flux are continuously supplied through the top of the furnace, while air is blown into the bottom of the chamber, so that the chemical reactions...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the first 100-ton Martin furnace, and the first large tube (iron pipe size
Iron pipe size
Iron Pipe Size refers to an old pipe sizing system still in use by some industries, including major PVC pipe manufacturers, as well as some legacy drawings and equipment....
) works. Together with Hugo Stinnes
Hugo Stinnes
-Life and career:Stinnes was born in Mülheim, in the Ruhr Valley, North German Confederation. His father was also named Hugo, and his grandfather Matthias Stinnes had founded a modest enterprise in Mülheim....
Thyssen was a cofounder of RWE.
On 3 December 1872 in Mülheim an der Ruhr he married Hedwig Pelzer (1854 – 1940), daughter of Johann-Heinrich Pelzer and wife Hedwig Troost. They divorced in 1885. The four children during the marriage were Fritz
Fritz Thyssen
Friedrich "Fritz" Thyssen was a German businessman born into one of Germany's leading industrial families.-Youth:Thyssen was born in Mülheim in the Ruhr area...
, August, Heinrich and Hedwig. To avoid the possibility that his divorce would lead to a partitioning of his industrial empire, Thyssen transferred the property to his children, but retained the management rights for himself during his lifetime.
The Thyssen conglomerate
Conglomerate (company)
A conglomerate is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate structure , usually involving a parent company and several subsidiaries. Often, a conglomerate is a multi-industry company...
became the nucleus of Vereinigte Stahlwerke AG
Vereinigte Stahlwerke AG
The Vereinigte Stahlwerke AG was a German industrial conglomerate producing coal, iron, and steel in the interbellum and during World War II....
, the biggest mining and steel cartel in the world, prior to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Thyssen was refounded in 1953 and joined with KruppHoesch to become ThyssenKrupp AG in 1997.
Thyssen purchased most of Beeckerwerth
Beeckerwerth
Beeckerwerth is a part of the German city of Duisburg and located right of the Rhine. It has a population of 3.807 and an area of 7,62 km².-History:...
, including Haus Knipp, in the early 20th century.
He was the first in his family to start acquiring a collection of works of art, including six pieces by sculptor Auguste Rodin
Auguste Rodin
François-Auguste-René Rodin , known as Auguste Rodin , was a French sculptor. Although Rodin is generally considered the progenitor of modern sculpture, he did not set out to rebel against the past...
, who was his friend.
Thyssen's firm was a vertically integrated
Vertical integration
In microeconomics and management, the term vertical integration describes a style of management control. Vertically integrated companies in a supply chain are united through a common owner. Usually each member of the supply chain produces a different product or service, and the products combine to...
company, controlling all aspects of the steelmaking process. He owned his own fleet of ships, a network of docks and a railroad. Although he was one of the richest men in Germany, he lived a simple life. He ran his empire from a dingy office in Mülheim, wore store-bought suits and was known to drink and eat with his workers. He was also an ardent republican
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
.
Thyssen died in 1926 of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
following complications from eye surgery
Eye surgery
Eye surgery, also known as orogolomistician surgery or ocular surgery, is surgery performed on the eye or its adnexa, typically by an ophthalmologist.-Preparation and precautions:...
.
Children
His children were:- Friedrich "Fritz" ThyssenFritz ThyssenFriedrich "Fritz" Thyssen was a German businessman born into one of Germany's leading industrial families.-Youth:Thyssen was born in Mülheim in the Ruhr area...
(1873 – 1951), industrialist - August Thyssen (Mülheim an der Ruhr, 25 September 1874 – MunichMunichMunich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, 13 June 1943), married and had a son:- Bodo ThyssenBodo ThyssenBodo Thyssen, Dr. was a German industrialist and medical doctor, son of Hans Thyssen and wife and grandson of Josef Thyssen, the younger brother of August Thyssen....
, Dr. (1918 – 2004), industrialist and medical doctor
- Bodo Thyssen
- Heinrich Freiherr Thyssen-Bornemisza de Kászon et ImpérfalvaHeinrich, Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza de KászonHeinrich Thyssen , since June 22, 1907 Heinrich Freiherr Thyssen-Bornemisza de Kászon et Impérfalva, was a German-Hungarian entrepreneur and art collector.-Biography:...
(1875 – 1947), industrialist and art collector - Hedwig Thyssen (Mülheim an der Ruhr, 19 December 1878 – KreuzlingenKreuzlingenKreuzlingen is a municipality in the district of Kreuzlingen in the canton of Thurgau in north-eastern Switzerland. It is the seat of the district and is the second largest city of the canton, after Frauenfeld, with a population of over 18,000...
, ThurgauThurgauThurgau is a northeast canton of Switzerland. The population, , is . In 2007, there were a total of 47,390 who were resident foreigners. The capital is Frauenfeld.-History:...
, 31 July 1950), married firstly in Mülheim an der Ruhr on 28 August 1899 and divorced in 1908 Ferdinand Freiherr von Neufforge (AachenAachenAachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
, 30 August 1869 – DavosDavosDavos is a municipality in the district of Prättigau/Davos in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. It has a permanent population of 11,248 . Davos is located on the Landwasser River, in the Swiss Alps, between the Plessur and Albula Range...
, 7 September 1942), married secondly in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 9 February 1908 Maximilian (Max) Freiherr von Berg (Steierdorf, Krassó-SzörényKrassó-SzörényKrassó-Szörény was the name of an administrative county of the historic Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently mostly located in south-western Romania, with one small part which is located in Serbia. The capital of the county was Lugoj...
vm, 1 May 1859 – Neu-Friedenheim, 25 March 1924); she had a natural son, for he used his mother's last name:- Joseph Thyssen
Other reading
- Manfred Rasch, Gerald D. Feldman (Hrsg.): August Thyssen und Hugo Stinnes. Ein Briefwechsel 1898-1922, München (C.H.Beck) 2003 - ISBN 3-406-49637-7
External links
- Official site of ThyssenKrupp Company
- Official biography by ThyssenKrupp
- Ancestors of Baroness Francesca Anne Thyssen-Bornemisza de Kaszon
- Ancestors of Archduchess Eleonore of Austria
- Ancestors of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria
- Ancestors of Archduchess Gloria of Austria
- Thyssen-Bornemissza de Kászon et Impérfalva Family