Jonathan-Raphaël Bischoffsheim

Jonathan-Raphaël Bischoffsheim (26 April 1808, Mainz – 5 February 1883, Brussels) was a Belgian banker, businessman and philanthropist. He descended from the Bischoffsheim family, and was endowed with an exceptional European network. On 11 June 1832, he married Henriette Goldschmidt (1812-1892) in Brussels, and together they had four children: Claire (Clara) (1832–1899), Ferdinand Raphael (1837–1909), Regine (1834–?), and Hortense Henriette (1843–1901).

In 1827, he co-founded the bank of Bischoffsheim & Goldschmidt. He played an important role for the finances and the institutions during the early years of Belgian independence. Bisschoffsheim was a Director of the Banque de Belgique and was one of the founders of the National Bank of Belgium, the regional tramways and managed the Communal Credit (Dutch Gemeentekrediet, French: Credit Communal) and the Caisse Generale d'Epargne et de Retraite (CGER or ASLK). Together with his brother he founded the bank which eventually developed into Paribas bank. From 1862 till 1883 he was also a Liberal member of the Belgian Parliament, and as such was influential in the development of the public education network.