page_title: Hottinguer family
section_title: Establishing a financial dynasty (1798–1832)
hierarchical_section_title: Hottinguer family / Establishing a financial dynasty (1798–1832)
caption_attribution_description: English: Napoleon I of France names Jean-Conrad Hottinger Baron of the Empire. Français&#160;: Lettres patentes de Napoléon conférant le titre de baron à Jean-Conrad Hottinger
context_page_description: Hottinger first appears in the annals of the town of Zöllikon, near Zurich, in 1362. The town had recently joined the Swiss Confederation, and was poised to become a thriving center for trade. In 1401, three members of the Hottinger family were named Burghers of the city. Their names Hans, Heinrich and Rudolf – or, in their French variants, Jean, Henri and Rodolphe – have marked the family dynasty for over 500 years. During the 15th and 16th centuries, their descendants oversaw the canton's progressive transformation from a rural to a financial economy, taking an active role in the region's political, cultural and religious life all the way into the 18th century.
context_section_description: Jean-Conrad Hottinguer – a ‘u’ had been added to the name to preserve the Germanic pronunciation of the name – continued to profit from his knowledge of the issue of public debt. In particular, he took a strong interest in the new commercial laws promulgated by Napoleon as of 1807. Shortly thereafter, in the throes of several victories, the Emperor decided to bestow titles and honors on affluent members of society. Marshals were named dukes, ministers were named counts, and mayors, bankers and bishops became barons.
  On 19 September 1810, Jean-Conrad Hottinguer was named Baron of the Empire. He went on to have six daughters and two sons. The eldest, Jean-Henri, inherited the title and the family business. Born in 1803, Jean-Henri Hottinguer took over his father's position at the head of the bank in January 1833. Jean-Conrad had by now born out Napoleon's defeat – playing no small role in handling France's massive war debt –  as well as the July Revolution of  1830. The family fortune was made, and Jean-Henri's focus would be to expand business abroad.
caption: Napoleon I of France names Jean-Conrad Hottinguer Baron of the Empire
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