Moriz von Kuffner

Moriz Kuffner ( later: Moritz; until 1919 [ Edler ] of; born 30 January 1854 in Ottakring in Vienna, today the 16th district of Vienna, † March 5, 1939 in Zurich ) was a Viennese brewing entrepreneur, patron and mountaineers from Austrian Jewish family of entrepreneurs Kuffner.S.30 He was owner of the brewery until today Ottakringerstraße.

Life

Moriz Kuffner was born as the son of Ignaz Kuffner, who with his cousin Jacob bought a small, over-indebted brewery in Ottakring 1850 and it developed into the thriving, now existing as the only brewery in Vienna Ottakringer brewery. 1878 Ignaz Edler von Kuffner was raised as Kuffner in the hereditary Austrian nobility, so that his descendants were allowed to carry this title, to the noble titles were abolished in 1919.

Entrepreneur

Moriz Kuffner studied chemistry at k.k. Polytechnic Institute, the forerunner of the Technical University of Vienna. He joined then in the brewery of the father a, took over in 1882 after his death in the line and expanded the business further. 1902-1903 was Kuffner in Vienna noble district Hietzing the so-called Hietzinger Platz (now Anna- Strauss-Platz ) build a very representative four-storey residential building ( 13, Hietzinger main road 30-32), for decades led the Ottakringerstraße Bräu -called bourgeois restaurant in the ground floor of been. 1905 changed Kuffner Ottakringerstraße brewery into a stock corporation.

Patron of science and culture

In addition to the economic growth of the brewery grew Kuffner social significance, sponsored by his favorite activities as a philosopher, art lovers and avid amateur astronomer. In Kuffner Palais opposite the brewery, the political and intellectual elite of Vienna met at numerous receptions and events.

Moriz von Kuffner's enthusiasm for astronomy and the economic prosperity of his business allowed him to become a great promoter of science. He built 1884-1886 in Ottakring from its own resources the most important private observatory of the Austro -Hungarian monarchy (see details Kuffner -Sternwarte ). He provided them with the best instruments, which could then be manufactured and which represent some areas still rarities, like a 10 - inch size refractor, an 8 - to inch Heliometer (largest ever built instrument of its kind ), a 5 - inch size meridian, vertical circle as well as precision watches. He also financed the operation, the hiring and activities of well-known professional astronomers, and participation in international projects.

In addition, Kuffner also dealt with philosophy, art, literature and economics. He had created an important collection of works of Albrecht Dürer with cuts and engravings, and documents (not letters ) and autobiographical notes Immanuel Kant's collected, he temporarily turned the Prussian academy.

In 1900 he was elected to the board of the Jewish community, where he served until 1918.

Mountain Sports

Moriz von Kuffner was an avid mountaineer and counted in the 1880s and 1890s, among the most important climbers in Austria. He conquered most of the alpine 4,000 m peaks and commits the new routes that were later partially named after him, as the Kuffnergrat on the Mont Maudit and the Kuffnerpfeiler on the Piz Palü.S.35 On his tours accompanied him in most cases the guides Alexander Burgener, JM Biner (also Biener ), J. Furrer, A. Kalbermatten, Cl. Perren, Christian Ranggetiner, E. Rubesoir, JP supporter groups and Martin Schocher.

Selection of first ascents:

Forced emigration and end of life

1938 became the year of misfortune the family of 84 -year-old Moriz Kuffner. In January, died after 47 years of marriage, his wife Elsa, in February followed the oldest son Ignaz with only 46 years of age and Maurice himself was seriously ill. In March, the " Anschluss" took place at the "Third Reich ". After the Jewish family Kuffner was harassed all kinds and physical threats by Nazis.

With the help of a friendly mountaineers ( the Moriz von Kuffner Foundation called ZSIGMONDY, not to be confused with Emil ZSIGMONDY, † 1885) was Moriz Kuffner entry permit for Switzerland. His sons John and Stephen took him shortly thereafter via Czechoslovakia to Zurich, where, after a long illness on March 5, 1939 in the Hirslanden Clinic verstarb.S.35 and 36

The two sons emigrated first from Paris, Cuba and the United States and were later settled in Switzerland. Stephan Kuffner founded in 1960 in Zurich, Moriz von Kuffner and Elsa Foundation. It supports students and needy families and individuals in need of nursing staff, Swiss social works of all kinds, mountain communities and institutions.

Topographic name

(: 16th district since 1892 ) nebem named the Kuffnergasse the brewery premises after his father Prior to 1870 was in what was then a suburb of Vienna Ottakring. According to his sister, was also in Ottakring, 1886-1944 and is named again in 2002 at the confluence of the Erdbrustgasse in the Gallitzinstraße St. Catherine alone.