1688

INFLUENTIAL JEWISH CITIZEN

Don Francisco Lopes Suasso (ca. 1657-1710), Baron d’Avernas le Gras, as was his official title, was a very influential citizen of The Hague. His father was an extremely wealthy banker who in spite of his Jewish roots was ennobled by King Carlos Segundo of Spain. Following his settlement in Den Haag Don Francisco Lopes Suasso as a successful banker continued to build his family’s fortune and invested among others in ‘Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie’. He financed Willem III (of William & Mary fame) to capture the English throne and in his battles against Louis XIV during the ‘Nine Year War’ (1688-1697). His palatial mansion at the Korte Voorhout, now the location of the Ministry of Finance looked truly majestic.