Joseph Ritter von Henikstein (1768 – April 29, 1838) was a

Jew Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, religion, and community are highly inte ...

ish businessman and financier. He was a patron of the arts, and a friend of

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...

. Born in Leimen,

Baden Baden (; ) is a historical territory in southern Germany. In earlier times it was considered to be on both sides of the Upper Rhine, but since the Napoleonic Wars, it has been considered only East of the Rhine. History The margraves of Ba ...

, Henikstein was married to Elisabeth von Sonnenstein (1770–1823). His daughter Caroline was married to

Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall Joseph Freiherr von Hammer-Purgstall (; 9 June 1774 – 23 November 1856) was an Austrian orientalist, historian and diplomat. He is considered one of the most accomplished orientalists of his time. Life Born Joseph Hammer in Graz, Duchy of S ...

, the diplomat and translator of

Oriental literature Asian literature is the literature produced in Asia. Examples *East Asian literature **Chinese literature **Japanese literature **Korean literature **Taiwanese literature **Vietnamese literature *Southeast Asian literature **Burmese literature **C ...

. His youngest son was Alfred von Henikstein. Joseph von Henikstein died in

Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...

. Joseph von Henikstein was an imperial and royal privileged wholesaler and owner of Henikstein and Comp., as well as one of the first directors of the Austrian National Bank, founded in 1818. In his two residences in downtown Vienna and at his country estate in

Oberdöbling Oberdöbling (Central Bavarian: ''Obadöbling'') was an independent municipality until 1892 and is today a part of Döbling, the 19th district of Vienna. It is also one of the 89 Katastralgemeinden. Geography Oberdöbling lies in the south of ...

, there were frequent house concerts where prominent musicians played music together with family members.

References

Austrian people of German-Jewish descent People from Leimen (Baden) 1768 births 1838 deaths {{Austria-noble-stub