Felix Somary
Stations
- 1899Matura at the Schottengymnasium
Attended the Viennese Schottengymnasium and passed the Matura (secondary-school leaving examination) in 1899; from the age of fourteen he had already been giving private tuition in Greek, mathematics and history.[2]
- 1904Doctorate at the University of Vienna
Earned his doctorate in 1904 at the Faculty of Law and Political Science of the University of Vienna under Carl Menger and Eugen von Philippovich. His fellow students included Joseph Schumpeter, Emil Lederer and Otto Bauer.[1]
- 1904–1905Habilitation Studies in Berlin
Spent a period of study in 1904/1905 at the University of Berlin, where he met Gustav von Schmoller, Otto von Gierke and Max Weber.[2]
- 1909Anglo-Austrian Bank— approximate
Joined the Anglo-Austrian Bank in Vienna as financial secretary (later assistant to the president) before moving to Berlin in 1909.[2]
- 1910–1914Hochschule für Staatswissenschaftliche Fortbildung (College for Advanced Studies in the Political Sciences)
Taught from 1910 to 1914 as a professor at the Hochschule für Staatswissenschaftliche Fortbildung (College for Advanced Studies in the Political Sciences) in Berlin.[4]
- 1914–1918Adviser to the Central Powers— approximate
During the First World War, an economic and political adviser to the Central Powers; co-author of a memorandum by Max Weber against unrestricted submarine warfare.[5]
- 1919Senior partner at the Blankart & Co. banking house
Became senior partner of the Zurich private banking house Blankart & Cie. in 1919. After the First World War he established himself as an independent banker and analyst.[1]
- 1930Marriage to Mary Demblin— approximate
In 1930 he married the Austrian countess Mary (May) Demblin and converted to Catholicism.[2]
- 1940Emigration to the United States— approximate
In 1940 he emigrated to the United States with his family. He taught as a visiting professor at American universities.[6]
- 1941–1943Adviser to the US War Department
Advised the US War Department on matters of international finance from 1941 to 1943.[1]
Influences
- 1904–1904
Earned his doctorate in 1904 at the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences of the University of Vienna under Carl Menger and Eugen von Philippovich.[1]
- 1904–1906
Somary was Philippovich's assistant at the University of Vienna in 1904-1906; Philippovich later arranged for him the post of assistant to the president at the Anglo-Österreichische Bank.
- 1904–1905Gustav von Schmoller(1838–1917) · Jüngere Historische Schule
Spent his student years in 1904/1905 at the University of Berlin, where he came to know Gustav von Schmoller, Otto von Gierke and Max Weber.[2]
- 1914–1918Max Weber(1864–1920) · Heidelberger Schule
Co-author of a memorandum by Max Weber against unrestricted submarine warfare during the First World War.
- —
Fellow student at the University of Vienna up to the time of his doctorate in 1904.
- —Otto Bauer(1881–1938) · Austromarxismus
Fellow student at the University of Vienna up to the time of his doctorate in 1904.
- —
Fellow student at the University of Vienna up to the time of his doctorate in 1904.
Felix Somary in the context of the School as a whole: five generations, their teacher-student lineages, circles and collegial ties.
Show in the family tree →SOURCES ON STATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS19 citations · 3 sources
- [2]Somary: The Raven of Zürich (Memoiren) · 8×
- [3]Hertner, Peter (2006): The Balkan Railways, International Capital and Banking from the End of the 19th Century until the Outbreak of the First World War. BNB Discussion Papers DP/53/2006, S. 31.
- [4]Akten der Reichskanzlei (Weimarer Republik): Lebenslauf Somary
- [5]Roth, Guenther (2003): The Near-Death of Liberal Capitalism: Perceptions from the Weber to the Polanyi Brothers. Politics & Society 31(2), S. 263-282.
- [6]Amateau, Albert (2011): Johannes Somary, debuted in Wash. Sq., dies at 75. East Villager, 11. Februar 2011.
The Books
- APA
- Felix Somary. (n.d.). Edited by mises.at and scholarium. Accessed July 14, 2026, from https://mises.at/en/denker/felix-somary
- Chicago
- “Felix Somary.” n.d. Edited by mises.at and scholarium. Accessed July 14, 2026. https://mises.at/en/denker/felix-somary.
- German historical style
- Felix Somary, edited by mises.at and scholarium, https://mises.at/en/denker/felix-somary (accessed July 14, 2026).