Moses Porges von Portheim
Encyclopedia
Moses Porges, Edler
von Portheim, or Moses Porges von Portheim (December 13/22, 1781, Prague
– May 21, 1870, Prague) was a Czech
-Austrian
industrialist (manufacturer) and vice-burgomaster
of Prague-Smichow
; knight
of the Order
of Francis Joseph
.
He was one of the earliest and most prominent of the large manufacturers of Austria, and was very closely associated with his younger brother, Leopold (Löw) Judah. Moses and Leopold, the sons of the highly respected but poor Gabriel Porges of the Spira
family, experienced adventures in the camp of the sectarian Joseph Frank at Offenburg
which have been described by Heinrich Graetz
in his "Frank und die Frankisten" (Breslau, 1868) and his "Gesch." x., and in greater detail by Dr. S. Back in "Monatsschrift" (1877, pp. 190 et seq.). Disillusioned, they returned to Prague, and began a small linen business, and in 1808 commenced, with a single cotton-printing press and in a dark shop on the Vltava
, an industrial activity which was destined later to reach great dimensions.
In 1830 the rapidly growing business was transferred to the suburb of Smichow, where it developed into one of the largest establishments of the Austrian monarchy, and in 1841 the emperor Ferdinand
conferred upon the brothers the patent of hereditary nobility with the title "von
Portheim", in recognition of the fact that they were the first cotton-manufacturers to employ steam in their works. When this patent had been offered Moses in the previous year, he asked the Oberstburggraf G. V. Chotek for a decree of emancipation of the Jews
instead, but this request was not granted. Moses later purchased and operated the porcelain
-factory at Chodov
together with the mines belonging to it, and after the passage of the laws of 1861 he and his brother entered politics, the latter being elected to the diet, while the former officiated for several years as vice-burgomaster of Prague-Smichow. The most noteworthy among the numerous benefactions of Moses Porges is the still existing crèche
, which, without distinction of creed or nationality, for eight months of the year, receives and cares for 150 children daily while their parents are at work.
Edler
Edler was until 1919 the lowest title of nobility in Austria-Hungary and Germany, just beneath a Ritter, but above nobles without title who used only the preposition von before their surname. It was mostly given to civil servants and military officers, as well as those upon whom the second rank of...
von Portheim, or Moses Porges von Portheim (December 13/22, 1781, Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
– May 21, 1870, Prague) was a Czech
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
-Austrian
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
industrialist (manufacturer) and vice-burgomaster
Burgomaster
Burgomaster is the English form of various terms in or derived from Germanic languages for the chief magistrate or chairman of the executive council of a sub-national level of administration...
of Prague-Smichow
Smíchov
Smíchov is a district of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, and is part of Prague 5. It is located on the west bank of the Vltava river....
; knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
of the Order
Chivalric order
Chivalric orders are societies and fellowships of knights that have been created by European monarchs in imitation of the military orders of the Crusades...
of Francis Joseph
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916.In the December of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated the throne as part of...
.
He was one of the earliest and most prominent of the large manufacturers of Austria, and was very closely associated with his younger brother, Leopold (Löw) Judah. Moses and Leopold, the sons of the highly respected but poor Gabriel Porges of the Spira
Spira
Spira may refer to:People:* Chaim Elazar Spira, Munkacs Rebbe* Elijah Spira* Fred Spira , Innovator and Executive in the Photographic Industry* Harry Spira* Jonathan Spira* Nathan Nata Spira...
family, experienced adventures in the camp of the sectarian Joseph Frank at Offenburg
Offenburg
Offenburg is a city located in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. With about 60,000 inhabitants, it is the largest city and the capital of the Ortenaukreis.Offenburg also houses University of Applied Sciences Offenburg...
which have been described by Heinrich Graetz
Heinrich Graetz
Heinrich Graetz was amongst the first historians to write a comprehensive history of the Jewish people from a Jewish perspective....
in his "Frank und die Frankisten" (Breslau, 1868) and his "Gesch." x., and in greater detail by Dr. S. Back in "Monatsschrift" (1877, pp. 190 et seq.). Disillusioned, they returned to Prague, and began a small linen business, and in 1808 commenced, with a single cotton-printing press and in a dark shop on the Vltava
Vltava
The Vltava is the longest river in the Czech Republic, running north from its source in Šumava through Český Krumlov, České Budějovice, and Prague, merging with the Elbe at Mělník...
, an industrial activity which was destined later to reach great dimensions.
In 1830 the rapidly growing business was transferred to the suburb of Smichow, where it developed into one of the largest establishments of the Austrian monarchy, and in 1841 the emperor Ferdinand
Ferdinand
Ferdinand is a Germanic male given name composed of the words for "prepared"/"protection"/"safety"/"peace" and "journey"/"boldness"/"recklessness"...
conferred upon the brothers the patent of hereditary nobility with the title "von
Von
In German, von is a preposition which approximately means of or from.When it is used as a part of a German family name, it is usually a nobiliary particle, like the French, Spanish and Portuguese "de". At certain times and places, it has been illegal for anyone who was not a member of the nobility...
Portheim", in recognition of the fact that they were the first cotton-manufacturers to employ steam in their works. When this patent had been offered Moses in the previous year, he asked the Oberstburggraf G. V. Chotek for a decree of emancipation of the Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
instead, but this request was not granted. Moses later purchased and operated the porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
-factory at Chodov
Chodov (Sokolov District)
Chodov is a town in Sokolov District of the Czech Republic, on the border with the Karlovy Vary District . , it has around 14,500 inhabitants.- History :...
together with the mines belonging to it, and after the passage of the laws of 1861 he and his brother entered politics, the latter being elected to the diet, while the former officiated for several years as vice-burgomaster of Prague-Smichow. The most noteworthy among the numerous benefactions of Moses Porges is the still existing crèche
Day care
Child care or day care is care of a child during the day by a person other than the child's legal guardians, typically performed by someone outside the child's immediate family...
, which, without distinction of creed or nationality, for eight months of the year, receives and cares for 150 children daily while their parents are at work.