Johann Münzberg

Johann Münzberg (3 August 1799 – 1 September 1878) was an industrialist in Austrian-era Bohemia. His textile factories, Textilwerke Johann Münzberg & Co., were at the time leading companies in Bohemia. He was also influential in the building of the Empress Elisabeth Bridge across the Elbe at Tetschen, a railway, a brewery on his estate in Libotschan, schools and a savings bank.

Johann Münzberg
Born	(1799-08-03)3 August 1799 Schönlinde, Bohemia
Died	1 September 1878(1878-09-01) (aged 79) Libotschan, Bohemia
Occupation	industrialist
Organization	Textilwerke Johann Münzberg & Co.
Awards	Order of Franz Joseph

Life

Münzberg was born on 3 August 1799 in Schönlinde, Bohemia, the son of Johann Gottfried Lorenz Münzberg (1758–1824) who had founded a textile factory for calico print, twine and linen in 1786.^[1][2]

Münzberg trained as a weaver and first worked in his father's factory. He gained experience as a journeyman and merchant in Rumburg and Georgswalde. In 1828 he and his brother Josef Münzberg (1794–1867) founded a cotton spinning mill, Theresienau, in Altstadt near Tetschen. It developed into an important group of companies. After further foundations and takeovers, the factories, under the name Textilwerke Johann Münzberg & Co., had more than 60,000 spindles in 1876 and were thus the most important company in the industry in Bohemia.^[2] Münzberg was called the Spinner King (Spinnerkönig).^[2]

Empress Elisabeth Bridge in Tetschen

Münzberg also founded a brewery on his estate in Libotschan and participated in the establishment of a sugar factory in Saaz. He supported the construction of a new bridge across the Elbe in Tetschen.^[1][3] The chain bridge was opened in 1855 as the Empress Elisabeth Bridge and connected Tetschen to the railway from Dresden to Prague.^[3] Münzberg supported the construction of the Böhmische Nordbahn [de] railway as well as the establishment of schools and a savings bank in Tetschen. In 1848 and 1849 he was entitled to print emergency money (Notgeld).^[1][4]

Münzberg's descendants continued to run the textile businesses, but many factories became unprofitable and were therefore shut down or taken over by Czech entrepreneurs. The factory in Bensen-Eleonorenhain remained family-owned until 1945.^[1][2]

Münzberg was awarded the Order of Franz Joseph.^[2] He died at the Libotschan estate on 1 September 1878.^[2]