J.N. Adelrich Benziger

Consul J.N. Adelrich Benziger
Benziger, c. 1870
Consul General of Switzerland to Cincinnati, Ohio
In office 1864–1866
President	Jakob Dubs
Personal details
Born	Joseph Nicholas Adelrich Benziger (1837-09-14)September 14, 1837 Einsiedeln, Switzerland
Died	February 17, 1878(1878-02-17) (aged 40) Staten Island, New York, U.S.
Resting place	Saint Peter's Cemetery
Spouse	Bertha von Sarnthein ​ ​ (m. 1869)​
Relations	Molly Brown (mother of daughter-in-law)
Occupation	Businessman, publisher, diplomat

Joseph Nicholas Adelrich Benziger abbreviated as J.N. Adelrich Benziger (14 September 1837 – 17 February 1878) was a Swiss businessman, publisher and diplomat who served as Consul General of Switzerland to Cincinnati, Ohio from 1864 to 1866. Benziger led the U.S. subsidiaries of RCL Benziger from 1857.

His son George Benziger would ultimately marry Helen Brown, who was a daughter of Molly Brown. Benziger permanently moved to Staten Island, New York in 1873, where he suddenly died in 1878 aged only 40.

Early life and education

Benziger was born 14 September 1837, in Einsiedeln, Switzerland, the ninth child born to Karl Benziger and Anna Maria (née Meyer), originally from Oberägeri. His father was born in Feldkirch, Austria after fleeing French troops. Karl was a member of the Executive Council of Schwyz and part-owner of Benziger Publishers. His older sister Meinrada Josefa Benziger was also involved in the family business. His family belonged to the upper-middle class. Initially, he was taught by a private teacher and then attended secondary schools in St. Gallen and Einsiedeln, as well as boarding schools in Bern and Geneva. After his compulsory schooling he completed an apprenticeship as a book merchant in Augsburg (Kingdom of Bavaria) and an internship at the Lampert bookshop.

Career

In 1856, aged 19, he entered the family business and a year later he took over the business interests of his cousin, also Adelrich Benziger, in the United States. In 1860, Benziger Brothers acquired the Catholic publishing company Kreuzberg & Nurre and established another branch in Cincinnati, Ohio. Between 1864 and 1866, Benziger served as the consul general of Switzerland in Cincinnati.

Personal life

Benziger married Gräfin Bertha von Sarnthein, a noble woman of Innsbruck, Austria, in 1869. They were introduced by his sister, Felicitas Benziger, who attended school with her. They had two daughters and three sons;

• Anna Benziger (b. 1870)
• Felicitas Benziger (b. 1872)
• Bernard Adelrich Benziger (b. 1876)
• George Joseph Peter Adelheid Benziger (1877–1948), married Catherine Ellen 'Helen' Brown (1889–1970), daughter of James Joseph Brown and Margaret Brown (née Tobin); two sons: James George Adelrich Benziger (1914–1995) and George Peter Joseph Benziger (1917–1985).