Joseph Ainslie Bear (May 28, 1878 – July 13, 1955) was an American banker who co-founded the investment bank Bear Stearns.
Joseph Ainslie Bear | |
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Born | Joseph Ainslie Bear May 28, 1878 |
Died | July 13, 1955 (age 77) |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Banker |
Known for | Co-founder of Bear Stearns |
Spouse | Julia Pam |
Bear was born to a Jewish family on May 28, 1878, in Louisville, Kentucky.[1] He was educated in France, Germany, and Switzerland.[2] He worked at the bond trading firm J.J. Danzig where he met Harold C. Mayer and Robert B. Stearns.[2][3] In 1923, they founded Bear Stearns with $500,000 in capital.[2]
His first wife was Julia Pam, sister of judge Hugo Pam.[4]