Maurice de Hirsch (1831–1896) was a German Jewish financier and philanthropist known for establishing charitable foundations to improve Jewish education and assist oppressed European Jews. He founded the Jewish Colonization Association, promoting large-scale Jewish immigration to Argentina. Born in Munich to a prominent Jewish family of bankers, Hirsch made a fortune through banking and railway ventures in Europe, including the Chemins de fer Orientaux railway linking Vienna to Istanbul. Hirsch was deeply committed to philanthropy, focusing on improving the conditions of Jews, particularly in Russia. When his proposal to the Russian government to fund secular Jewish education was rejected, he established the Jewish Colonization Association with £2,000,000 to support Jewish agricultural colonies outside Russia. The fund eventually grew to £11,000,000 after his wife’s death. The association helped establish colonies in Argentina, North America, and later Palestine. In addition to his work with Jewish refugees, Hirsch supported numerous charities, including schools in Galicia, hospitals in London, and trade schools in the U.S. His Baron de Hirsch Fund in New York facilitated the relocation of Jewish immigrants to smaller U.S. towns and funded agricultural and trade education. He also contributed to the Pasteur Institute in Paris.

Maurice de Hirsch - Wikipedia