Michael von Puchberg

Johann Michael Edler von Puchberg ( born September 22, 1741 Zwettl, Lower Austria, † January 21, 1822 in Vienna) was a wealthy cloth merchant in Vienna.

Life

He was born as the sixth child of a town clerk Johann Michael Puchberg and his wife Maria Catharina and spent his youth in Zwettl.

In 1768 he joined the company of Michael Salliet in Vienna and brought it within a short time to the managing director. On August 15, 1780, he married Elizabeth Salliets widow, who died in 1784. Then he took over in September 1785 along with his brother Philipp Anton the company. In 1793 he was knighted by Emperor Francis II in the peerage.

After 1800, he got into business difficulties and consequently lost his fortune. In 1801 he went bankrupt and on March 30, 1802 close his business permanently.

Relationship with Mozart

He was since 1773/74 member of the Viennese Masonic lodge to three eagles and thus came in contact with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was recorded in 1784 in the Lodge to charity. Mozart called Puchberg as outlaw and true friend, and often begged him for money. Appropriate petitions at least 21 are known from the years 1788 to 1791. Puchberg came to these requests, borrowed Mozart but lower sums than desired by the latter.