Emile Erlanger & Co. facts for kids

Emile Erlanger & Co. was a French company that helped people and businesses with money, like investing. It was started by a banker named Baron Frédéric Émile d'Erlanger from Paris. The company was active during and after the time when the Southern United States was rebuilding after the American Civil War. Baron d'Erlanger was married to Matilde Slidell, whose father was a well-known politician from Louisiana.

What Was Emile Erlanger & Co.?

Emile Erlanger & Co. was a special kind of bank. It helped to manage and invest money. The company was founded by Baron Frédéric Émile d'Erlanger. He was a very important banker who lived in Paris, France. The company played a role in the United States after the Civil War. This period was called the Reconstruction era. It was a time when the Southern states were trying to rebuild.

How the Company Helped the Confederacy

The company became known for something called "cotton bonds" in 1863. These bonds were a way for the Confederacy, which was the group of Southern states during the Civil War, to borrow money. They needed money to help pay for their efforts. The company helped them raise a large amount, about £3 million pounds. This was around $14.5 million US dollars at that time. However, the relationship between the company and the Confederacy did not stay strong. Because of this, no more big loans were made after that first one.

Investing in the Southern United States

After the Civil War ended in 1865, Emile Erlanger & Co. focused on a new type of work. They specialized in bringing money from France to the Southern United States. This money was used to build important things like railroads. They also invested in developing land. One famous project they helped with was the railroads of the Queen and Crescent Route. These railroads helped connect different parts of the South.

Changes and Mergers Over Time

The company's name changed over the years. In 1928, it became known as Erlanger Ltd.. Later, in 1958, it joined with another company called Philip Hill Higginson. At this time, Leo d'Erlanger was in charge. The new company was named Philip Hill Higginson Erlanger Ltd.

In 1965, this company merged again with a private bank called M Samuel. Together, they became Hill Samuel & Co. This new company was later taken over by TSB Group Plc. in 1987. Finally, TSB Group Plc. merged with Lloyds Bank in 1995. This created the well-known bank called Lloyds TSB.

See also

• S. Isaac, Campbell & Company: A British company that supplied goods to the Confederacy. They accepted Erlanger cotton bonds as payment.
• John Slidell: A Louisiana politician and the father-in-law of Frédéric Émile d'Erlanger.
• Erlanger, Kentucky: A city in Kentucky named after the Erlanger family.
• Slidell, Louisiana: A city in Louisiana named after the Slidell family.