For almost two hundred years, Rothschild has been involved in the financial development of Brazil. The relationship dates back to the time of Nathan Mayer Rothschild, who issued a loan in 1825 to help Brazil secure its independence from Portugal. Further loans helped to develop railways and infrastructure and as agents to the government, Rothschild helped Brazil maintain its standing in financial markets.
Nathan's London banking house, N M Rothschild, dealt in bullion and foreign exchange, and his remarkable successes in these fields earned him the contract from the British Government to supply Wellington's troops with gold coin in 1814 and 1815, leading up to the Battle of Waterloo. He issued 26 British and foreign government loans between 1818 and 1835 and in 1824 floated the Alliance Assurance Company.
Nathan's involvement in Brazil can be traced to his connection by marriage to the firm of Samuel, Phillips & Co. (archive files XI/38/215A and XI/38/215B): Samuel Moses Samuel was married to Nathan's sister-in-law Esther (née Cohen).
