Adolphe Boissevain

Adolphe Boissevain

Athanase Adolphe Henri Boissevain (8 March 1843, Amsterdam - 1 April 1921, Bussum) was a Dutch banker, who founded the banking company Adolphe Boissevain & Co in 1875, with the help of an American partner. This firm was active in two fields: the introduction of American securities on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange and securities arbitrage between Amsterdam, New York and London. In 1888, in order to improve his position, he founded (in cooperation with his American partners, the Blake Brothers) the London-based company Blake, Boissevain & Co. Together the three companies were a strong alliance in the 3 main financial centers. Adolphe‘s first assistant in the securities arbitrage business was J.L. Pierson who later became partner in the company. A few years after Adolphe retired the name of the firm was changed to Pierson & Co., predecessor of the present well-known investment bank MeesPierson.