Rothschild
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Rothschild. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
ros'child, a famous European banking house. The founder was Mayer Anselm of Frankfurt-on-the-Main. He was of Hebrew ancestry and was born in the Jews' Alley in 1743. His father desired him to become a priest, but he preferred the business of a money changer. He had a reputation for honesty and ability and rose from poverty to affluence. When Napoleon was marching on Cassel, the elector sent for Mayer Anselm and intrusted him with the treasure in his vaults, valued at $5,000,000. The Jewish banker and his friends succeeded in concealing the treasure, thus saving it from the grasp of the French. The prince permitted him to use the money for some time without interest. The safe return of so large an amount gave the banker a world-wide reputation. The family name of Rothschild was derived from a red shield or armorial bearing over the door of the building in which he did business. Mayer Anselm Rothschild set up five sons in the banking business in the five capitals of Europe: Anselm in Frankfort; Nathan in London; Solomon in Vienna; Jacob in Paris; and Karl in Naples. Under his instructions they formed a general partnership, which controlled speedily the largest aggregate of capital known in ancient or modern times. The London house is said to have made a million dollars in a few hours by acting on private advices and buying up English securities at a low price before the news of the battle of Waterloo became generally known. The house of Rothschilds has maintained its financial strength by admitting successive members of the family into partnership and by close intermarriage between cousins, thus keeping the wealth all in the family. It is said that during the Napoleonic wars, the house raised and loaned to the various nations a sum not less than $500,000,000. The larger public loans managed by the firm since that date have been for Great Britain , Austria, Prussia, France, Italy, Russia, and Brazil, aggregating, it is said, $2,345,000,000. The firm holds a large amount of United States bonds. During the late war between Russia and Japan, the Rothschilds controlled practically the monetary situation. The firm controls so large a part of the world's wealth that nations are practically unable to go to war without its permission. In 1868 a Rothschild died in Paris worth $400,000,000. The firm controls the precious metals of Mexico. A Rothschild was the first Jew ever admitted to the English Parliament.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
the name of a Jewish family of European bankers and capitalists, the enormousness of : whose aggregate wealth has passed into a proverb. The founder of this race of financiers, MEYER ANSELM ROTHSCHILD, born at Frankfort-on-the-Main in 1743, died there in 1812, after having accumulated the most gigantic fortune ever possessed by a single individual up to his day. Commencing as a small trader, he, by his probity, frugality, and superior business qualifications, eventually became the banker of monarchs and the creditor of states. Of the five sons who succeeded to the vast inheritance he bequeathed them, the eldest, ANSELM (born 1773, died 1855), was his father's partner and successor at Frankfort. The second, SOLOMON (born 1774, died 1855), became established as the representative of the house of Rothschild at Vienna. The third, NATHAN MEYER (born 1777, died 1836), settled as the London partner, and became the leading member and ablest financier of the family. The fourth, CHARLES (born 1788, died 1855), filled the representation of the firm at Naples. Lastly, JAMES (born 1792, died 1868), eventually took up his residence in Paris, where he died, leaving a fortune estimated at $200,000,000. Within a period of less than 12 years the Rothschilds advanced in leans as follows: to England, $200,000,000; Austria, $50,000,- 000; Prussia, $40,000,000; France, $80,- 000,000; Naples, $50,000,000; Russia, $25,000,000; Brazil, $12,000,000; besides some $5,000,000 to smaller states; or, altogether, the then almost incredible amount of $462,000,000. The colossal financiering operations of the house are now conducted by the descendants of the above-mentioned brothers, and the firm has banking houses and representatives in all the leading cities of the civilized world.