Welcome toThe Rothschild Archive'swebsite

Sources for business history: plans of New Court

Sources for art history: Catalogue of the pictures of Alfred de Rothschild 1901

Sources for yachting history: Plans for Nathaniel von Rothschild's yacht Veglia 1905

Sources for natural history: Walter 2nd Lord Rothschild and his zebra carriage: c.1910

Sources for global financial history: Map of lines of the Brazil Railway Company: c.1920

Sources for business history: index cards to bank files

Sources for social history: Rothschild Hospital Paris: 1920s

Sources for business history: detail of a Rothschild bond coupon

Sources for architectural history: Halton House: 1890s

Sources for the history of travel: Lionel de Rothschild's tours of Spain: 1909

Sources for local history: Tring Park: c.1900

Sources for Royal history: shooting party with Edward Prince of Wales: 1893

Sources for political history: Lionel de Rothschild: first Jewish MP: 1858

Sources for sporting history: St Amant winner of the Derby: 1904

Sources for local history: gardeners at Aston Clinton: 1899

Sources for Rothschild family history: Lionel de Rothschild's yacht Rhodora: 1927

Sources for London history: entrance to New Court: 1965

Sources for design history: plans for Lionel de Rothschild's Rolls-Royce: 1930

Sources for business history: Rothschild gold bars produced by the Royal Mint Refinery: 1930s

Sources for business history: letters of August Belmont Rothschild Agent in New York: 1860s

Exhibition - Rothschilds & Brazil

2: Financing the new nation

Nathan Rothschild in London, although otherwise cautious about South American investments, took an early interest in the new state. He was probably considering a loan to Brazil as early as 1823, but the first loan in 1824 was managed by a group of smaller contractors consisting of Baylett, Farquhar & Co., Alexander & Co. and Wilson, Shaw & Co. Nathan may well have discretely supported this group, because in 1825 he managed a second, larger, tranche of the loan, amounting to £2,000,000.  The loan was secured on customs revenues.

When the South American speculative bubble burst at the end of the 1820s, Brazil managed to preserve a degree of solvency. This was in large part due to Nathan's financial innovation in raising a loan of £400,000 in 1829 specifically to service Brazil's existing debts. This bond is thought to be the first of its kind.

Brazil would continue to be reliant on foreign loans and continue to have difficulties in repaying the principal of these loans, but a file note c1852 acknowledges that the bank had:

"not lost sight of the position which the Bonds of the Imperial Government hold, from the undeviating punctuality with which during 28 years the dividends of these Loans have been paid."

Government bond

Government bond