Christoph Ehinger

Christoph Ehinger (September 30, 1755 – April 25, 1833) was a Swiss banker, politician and member of the Daig. Ehinger was the founder of the private bank Ehinger & Co in Basel, Switzerland in 1810. He served on the Grand Council of Basel-Stadt between 1806 and 1817. He also served as mayor of Basel.

Life
Ehinger was born September 30, 1755, in Basel, Switzerland to Matthias and Anna Maria (née Weiss). The family belongs to the Daig, the well-established upper class of the city, and his father is a councilor. He completed his Matura in Basel followed by a commercial apprenticeship. He returned to Basel after a long-term stay in the Netherlands. In 1810, he founded the private bank Ehinger & Co, which still exists today and is led by descendants of Johann Ludwig Ehinger (his adopted son).

He served on the Grand Council of Basel-Stadt from 1806 to 1817 and as mayor of Basel between 1815 and 1817 (a position he never wanted to hold and was forced to do).

Personal life
On August 8, 1788, Ehinger married Susanna Burckhardt (1766-1843), who was a daughter of Christoph Burckhardt and Anna Maria (née Frey). They had had one legitimate son:


 * Ludwig Ehinger (1790-1809), in a relationship with Katharina Caroline Merian, no children.

They also adopted a son:


 * Johann Ludwig Ehinger (né Burckhardt; 1789–1838), married Anna Katharina La Roche, seven children who bore the Ehinger name and would take-over the family bank.