Entrepreneur, community leader, philanthropist - Josef Wertheimer

The Vienna address book from 1874 contains the following entries - Wertheimer Josef, Ritter von, R. d. Franz Josef Ordens und der eisernen Krone III Kl, owner of the Wiener Geschäftsbericht, Präs. der Israelit. Allianz zu Wien and the israel. Ber., chairman of the israel. Kinderbewahranstalt, Vognergasse 8 - Wertheimer Josef, Repräs.des Gremiums der Wiener Kaufmannschaft, Ges. der F.S. Wertheimer & Söhne, K.K. landespriv. Saffian- u, Lederfab., II. Praterstr. 9 - Wertheimer Josef, Rit. V., Oel- u. Naturproductenhandlung, R. d. eis. Kr. III Cl., E&szliggasse 16 - Josef Ritter von Wertheimer was born on March 15, 1800. He was married to Henriette, née Ullmann. He was a pedagogue, merchant, philanthropist and writer; a pioneer of Jewish emancipation in Austria.As early as 1826 he translated the book "On the Early Education of Children and the English Small Children's Schools"; in 1830 he founded the first childcare institution with the Catholic priest Johann Lindner, - in 1834 he founded the Pension Institute for Israelite Prayer House Officials, - in 1840 he founded the Pension Institute for Israelite Prayer House Officials. In 1840 he founded the "Verein zur Förderung der Handwerke unter den inländischen Israeliten“.  1854–65 he published the organ "Kalender und Jahrbuch für Israeliten“. In 1868, he was one of the co-founders of the first private educational institution for kindergarten teachers and in 1872 of the General Rescue Society and the Israelit. Alliance in Vienna for persecuted Jews. From 1835 1868 he was on the board of the Jewish Community, from 1864 - 1867 as president. In 1850 Josef (Ritter) von Wertheimer received the gold medal for art and science, in 1860 the Knight's Cross of the Order of Franz Joseph and in 1868 the Order of the Iron Crown III Class and was elevated to knighthood. Together with her husband, his wife Henriette von Wertheimer ran a well-known Viennese salon, which was frequented by Eduard von Bauernfeld, Franz Grillparzer, Ludwig August Frankl and Ernst von Feuchtersleben, among others. His grave of honor is located in the old Israelite section of Vienna's Central Cemetery. His wife also rests in this grave