Henri Germain (1824–1905) was a

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

banker and politician.

Early life

Henri Germain was born on 19 February 1824 in Lyon.Jacques-Marie Vaslin
Henri Germain, prudent banquier du Crédit lyonnais
'' Le Monde'', August 15, 2013 His father, Henri Germain, was a silk businessman, and his mother was Claudine Lupin. He received a law degree. He was a follower of Saint-Simonianism, and

François Barthélemy Arlès-Dufour François Barthélemy Arlès-Dufour (3 June 1797 – 21 January 1872) was a French silk merchant and leading exponent of Saint-Simonianism. He was born to a poor family, had little formal education and began work in a shawl factory at the age of 16 ...

(1797-1872) became his mentor.

Career

Germain founded Crédit Lyonnais on 6 July 1863. It became the first bank in France to offer savings accounts with interest. The first shareholders were Saint-Simon followers like Paulin Talabot (1799–1885), Barthélemy Prosper Enfantin (1796–1864), Arlès-Dufour and Michel Chevalier (1806-1879). Two years later, in 1865, he founded the Société Foncière Lyonnaise, a real estate company. In 1892, he spearheaded the construction of the Boulevard Carnot (Cannes), Boulevard Carnot, then known as the ''Boulevard de la Foncière-Lyonnaise''. Germain was a member of the General Council of Ain from 1871 to 1883. He then served as a member of the National Assembly (France), National Assembly from 1868 to 1893.

Personal life and death

Germain was married to Blanche Germain. They resided at Villa Orangini in Cimiez, Nice.Christian Byk, 'Regard sur les villas niçoises', p. 91-101, ''Nice-Historique'', année 1989, no 40 Their son, André Germain (1881-1971), was a writer. Germain died on 2 February 1905.

Bibliography

*''La Situation financière de la France en 1886'' *''L’État politique de la France en 1886''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Germain, Henri 1824 births 1905 deaths Businesspeople from Lyon Politicians from Lyon French republicans Members of the 4th Corps législatif of the Second French Empire Members of the National Assembly (1871) Members of the 1st Chamber of Deputies of the French Third Republic Members of the 2nd Chamber of Deputies of the French Third Republic Members of the 3rd Chamber of Deputies of the French Third Republic Members of the 5th Chamber of Deputies of the French Third Republic French bankers Saint-Simonists