Christoph Merian
Encyclopedia
Christoph Merian was a banker and businessman. He was the son of Christoph Merian senior (1769–1849) and Valeria Hoffmann (1773–1834) and married in 1824 to Margarethe Burckhardt (1806–1886) from Basel.
He was the owner of a large estate, agriculturist and rentier
. He was one of the richest Swiss men of that time. He was honorary citizen of Münchenstein
(1854) and the canton of Basel-Country
(1855). and the founder of the Christoph Merian Stiftung
.
Christoph Merian was educated in Basel. He served his apprenticeship as banker. He also visited the "Landwirtschaftliches Institut Hofwil" (agricultural institute of Hofwil) near Berne and the "Landwirtschaftliche Akademie" (agricultural academy) in Hohenheim by Stuttgart. His education as an Agronomist was concluded in England and France.
He lived as a banker, businessman and agriculturist on the farming estate of Brüglingen in Münchenstein near Basel.
He achieved large financial gains with his firm "Frères Merian" in by-passing the Napoleonic Continental System. In 1824 he married Margarethe Burckhardt, the daughter of an industrial. As a wedding present, they received the country estate in Brüglingen and the country house Villa Merian
.
Today, he is remembered mainly for founding the Christoph Merian Stiftung
, a highly visible non-profit entity that continues to support social, cultural, ecological and economic projects to the benefit of the general population in the Basel region to this day. As of 2006, its worth was 289 Million Swiss Francs, in addition to the 900 ha of land it owns.
The institution was founded in Christoph Merian's Testament (dated 26.03.1857), in which he made an endowment/beneficence to the city of Basel. This came into legal effect as his widow Margaretha (1806-1886) died on the 3rd of May 1886.
Rudolf Suter: Die Christoph Merian Stiftung, Basel 1986
He was the owner of a large estate, agriculturist and rentier
Rentier
A rentier is an entity that receives income derived from economic rents, which can include anything from the income derived from intellectual property to real estate. Associated terms include* Rentier capitalism* Rentier state...
. He was one of the richest Swiss men of that time. He was honorary citizen of Münchenstein
Münchenstein
Münchenstein is a municipality in the district of Arlesheim in the canton of Basel-Landschaft in Switzerland.-Historical records:Münchenstein is first mentioned in 1196 as Kekingen. In 1270 it was mentioned as Geckingen and in 1279 as Munchenstein.* 1259: The hamlet and the mill, between "Neue...
(1854) and the canton of Basel-Country
Basel-Country
Basel-Landschaft , is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland. The capital is Liestal...
(1855). and the founder of the Christoph Merian Stiftung
Christoph Merian Stiftung
The Christoph Merian Stiftung is a non-profit-making public utility institution, with its seat in Basel . Up until 1972 the institution was named Chr. Merian’sche Stiftung.-Foundation:...
.
Biography
Christoph Merian stemmed from one of the most distinguished aristocrat families in Basel. His father, Christoph Merian senior, was a merchant who started with handling raw cotton, later with shipping/transport, banking and various speculative businesses. Christoph Merian senior ended his venturous businesses in 1810 and subsequently invested in the industry and banking activities.Christoph Merian was educated in Basel. He served his apprenticeship as banker. He also visited the "Landwirtschaftliches Institut Hofwil" (agricultural institute of Hofwil) near Berne and the "Landwirtschaftliche Akademie" (agricultural academy) in Hohenheim by Stuttgart. His education as an Agronomist was concluded in England and France.
He lived as a banker, businessman and agriculturist on the farming estate of Brüglingen in Münchenstein near Basel.
He achieved large financial gains with his firm "Frères Merian" in by-passing the Napoleonic Continental System. In 1824 he married Margarethe Burckhardt, the daughter of an industrial. As a wedding present, they received the country estate in Brüglingen and the country house Villa Merian
Villa Merian
The Villa Merian, with its English Garden, stands on the elevated plain above Brüglingen in Münchenstein, in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.-Geographical location:...
.
Today, he is remembered mainly for founding the Christoph Merian Stiftung
Christoph Merian Stiftung
The Christoph Merian Stiftung is a non-profit-making public utility institution, with its seat in Basel . Up until 1972 the institution was named Chr. Merian’sche Stiftung.-Foundation:...
, a highly visible non-profit entity that continues to support social, cultural, ecological and economic projects to the benefit of the general population in the Basel region to this day. As of 2006, its worth was 289 Million Swiss Francs, in addition to the 900 ha of land it owns.
The institution was founded in Christoph Merian's Testament (dated 26.03.1857), in which he made an endowment/beneficence to the city of Basel. This came into legal effect as his widow Margaretha (1806-1886) died on the 3rd of May 1886.
Literature
Gustav Adolf Wanner: Christoph Merian, Basel 1958Rudolf Suter: Die Christoph Merian Stiftung, Basel 1986
External links
- Personenlexikon des Kantons Basel-Landschaft: Merian Christoph: http://www.baselland.ch/MERIAN_Christoph-htm.294430.0.html
- Christoph Merian Stiftung: http://www.merianstiftung.ch
- Merian Park Brüglingen: http://www.bogabrueglingen.ch