Meyer Guggenheim (, ; February 1, 1828 – March 15, 1905) was the patriarch of what became known as the Guggenheim family in the United States, which became one of the world's wealthiest families during the 19th century, and remained so during the 20th.

Early life

Guggenheim was born in Lengnau, Aargau, Switzerland, on February 1, 1828. He was the son of Simon Meyer Guggenheim and Schafeli (née Levinger) Guggenheim and was of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry.

Career

After emigrating from Switzerland in 1847 to the United States, he launched a new life in the importing business. He ultimately made his fortune (one of the largest of the 19th century) through business ventures in mining and smelting, mostly in the United States. After investing in silver mines in the Leadville mining district of Colorado, he expanded into ore smelting in Colorado. He built a number of smelters across the United States and in northern Mexico. As his several sons grew up, they assumed leading roles in the family mining and smelting business.

Personal life

Guggenheim met Barbara Weil (1834–1900), the daughter of his new stepmother, and married her four years later around 1852. Together, they were the parents of ten surviving children. Five of their seven sons were active in the family businesses, including: After his wife's death in 1900, Guggenheim and his sons provided $200,000 to Mount Sinai Hospital for the construction of a hospital in her honor. Guggenheim died on March 15, 1905, in Palm Beach, Florida. He was interred at the Salem Fields Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Descendants

Through his son Benjamin, Guggenheim was a grandfather of art collector and socialite Peggy Guggenheim.