Count Gérard Le Grelle, the son of Joseph J. Le Grelle, was a banker and set up the insurance companies Securitas (1819) and L'Escaut (1821). His situation was hardly comfortable, as the business world was increasingly supporting the Orangism (Dutch Republic) for fear of seeing the Scheldt blocked again by The Netherlands. A supporter of Belgium since his schooling in Brussels with Professor Jean-Baptiste Lesbroussart, Gérard asserted himself, between 1815 and 1830, by categorically refusing any administrative or political office under the Dutch regime and even turning down a proposal to be appointed town councilor. He preferred instead to concentrate his energy on the city of Antwerp and his bank. Together with his brothers Henri (1798-1872) and Edmond (1805-1876), he was a driving force behind the bank, which played an important role in financing the city of Antwerp after the independence of Belgium in 1830. Together with the Rothschild Bank, the Le Grelle Bank was also among the major financiers of the Papal States (which at the time represented a quarter of Italy, from the south of Rome to Bologna) prior to the unification of Italy through the Peter's Pence in 1854 and 1864. Count Gérard Le Grelle's name remains attached to a famous petition for religious freedom in 1825, which earned him Rome's support in 1852.