Édouard-Jean Empain
Encyclopedia
Baron
Édouard-Jean Empain is a French
-Belgian
industrialist, mostly known by the general public for his kidnapping in 1978.
Between 1969 and 1981, Baron Empain was CEO of the Schneider
group.
On January 23, 1978, Baron Empain was kidnapped when exiting his home in Paris
, France
. His captors, led by Georges Bertoncini, requested a ransom of 17 million Swiss franc
s. In order to pressure the family in paying, they amputated Empain's little finger.
Empain was freed by his captors on March 26, 1978 after one of his takers was arrested by the police.
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
Édouard-Jean Empain is a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
-Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
industrialist, mostly known by the general public for his kidnapping in 1978.
Between 1969 and 1981, Baron Empain was CEO of the Schneider
Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric is a French global company. It was founded in 1836 by two brothers, Eugène and Adolphe Schneider.In the first part of the 20th century, Schneider et Cie associated itself with Westinghouse Systems, a major international electrical group at the time. The group began manufacturing...
group.
On January 23, 1978, Baron Empain was kidnapped when exiting his home in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. His captors, led by Georges Bertoncini, requested a ransom of 17 million Swiss franc
Swiss franc
The franc is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein; it is also legal tender in the Italian exclave Campione d'Italia. Although not formally legal tender in the German exclave Büsingen , it is in wide daily use there...
s. In order to pressure the family in paying, they amputated Empain's little finger.
Empain was freed by his captors on March 26, 1978 after one of his takers was arrested by the police.