Family Clifford
Great Britain- The Cliffords: A Prominent Banking, Merchant, and Regent Family
- George Clifford I and the Move to Amsterdam
- George Clifford II and the Family Business
- George Clifford III and the Linnaeus Connection
- City Governance and Financial Downfall
- Legacy and Later Years
The Cliffords: A Prominent Banking, Merchant, and Regent Family
Origins and EducationThe Clifford family, of English origin, played a significant role in the financial, commercial, and political landscape of Amsterdam during the 16th and 17th centuries. Despite sharing the name with an ancient noble family from northern England, the bankers descended from the village and manor of Clifford in Herefordshire, western England.
Among the family members, Richard Clifford (born in Aylsham) stands out for his education at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He later became Rector of Landbeach and a Canon of Stow.
George Clifford I and the Move to Amsterdam
George Clifford I (also known as Joris), born in Landbeach in 1576, epitomized the family's relocation to Amsterdam. Arriving in the city sometime between 1634 and 1640, he established a banking business and became a prominent figure in the city's commercial life, maintaining an account at the Amsterdamsche Wisselbank from 1645.
George Clifford II and the Family Business
George Clifford II, born in 1657, took over his father's banking business along with his brother Isaac in 1701, forming the renowned company "George en Isaäc Clifford & Co." George II was instrumental in managing the Suriname Society (Sociëteit van Suriname) and later acquired the Hartekamp estate in Heemstede.
George Clifford III and the Linnaeus Connection
George Clifford III (1685-1760), a renowned plant lover and collector, played a significant role in the field of botany. He commissioned Carl Linnaeus to catalog his extensive collection, resulting in the publication of "Hortus Cliffortianus." Clifford III's patronage of Linnaeus further expanded his scientific influence.
City Governance and Financial Downfall
By the mid-18th century, the Clifford family had become prominent in Amsterdam's city government. They provided loans to banks in Russia, Denmark, and England, as well as to plantation owners in Suriname. However, in 1772, their business collapsed, triggering a financial crisis that affected several other banking firms.
Legacy and Later Years
After the business collapse, the Clifford family relocated to The Hague in the mid-19th century. Their family archive was unfortunately destroyed during World War II, leaving behind a limited but still fascinating glimpse into their remarkable history.
