Clara de Hirsch

Baroness Clara de Hirsch (born Claire Bischoffsheim; June 18, 1833 – April 1, 1899) was a Belgian businesswoman and philanthropist who was a member of the Bischoffsheim family and the wife of Baron Maurice de Hirsch.

Early life and marriage

Born at Antwerp, her father was Jonathan-Raphaël Bischoffsheim. Her mother was Henriette Goldschmidt (1812–1892), a sister of Solomon H. Goldschmidt, who for many years acted in the capacity of president of the Alliance Israélite Universelle.

She received a liberal education and was an accomplished linguist, able to speak and write fluently in French, German, English, and Italian. After leaving school, she acted as her father's secretary and thus became conversant not only with his business affairs, but also with his work as legislator and philanthropist. This proved to be a valuable experience during her husband's lifetime, and particularly so after his death, when she was left as sole administrator of his large estate. She was a ready writer and was her husband's only assistant while he was abroad; and at home, when his secretaries were overtaxed, she often relieved them of long and arduous duties.

Bequests Among the chief bequests in her will were the following: Jewish Board of Guardians, London (as a loan fund), $600,000. École normale orientale de l'Alliance israélite in Paris, $800,000. Pension Fund for Teachers, Their Orphans and Widows, $600,000. Baron de Hirsch Institute, Montreal, $1,200,000. Baron de Hirsch Foundation for Providing Schools in Galicia, $2,200,000. Baroness Clara de Hirsch's Emperor Francis Joseph's Jubilee Foundation (for support of children in Austria), $400,000. Clara de Hirsch Home for Working Girls, New York city, $600,000. Philanthropic Society of Paris, $200,000. Committee of Jewish Charities, Paris, $100,000. Minor bequests to individuals and societies, $800,000.