Louis Dreyfus & Compagnie Limited house flag and funnel livery
Date1950-1970
Object numberANMS0418[703]
NameIllustration
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from the Estate of John Watt
HistoryLouis Dreyfus & Compagnie was founded in 1851 by Léopold Dreyfus under the name of his father Louis Dreyfus (Léopold was 18 years old at the time). The company started off buying wheat from farmers in Alsace and selling it across the border in Switzerland. Cross border cereal trade was the basis of the family's fortune but it soon diversified to include shipping, weapons manufacturing, oil and banking. By the early 20th century the Dreyfus family were one of the wealthiest families in France. Being Jewish their property was confiscated by the Vichy regime during WWII and a some of their members fled to America.