Pierre Louis Francis Brion (1750-1799)

He was a Jewish-Dutch merchant who was born at Brabant in Flanders (Belgium) and raised in Amsterdam. In 1773, he married his wife and fours years later (1777) they arrived in Curacao off the coast of Venezuela where he was Factor of the Amsterdam-based firm Turri & Co. Over time, he came to represent four other Dutch companies. He outfitted ships; he bought and sold ships across Imperial borders; and, collected debts in foreign colonies on behalf of foreigners. He had business contacts with virtually every major port in Spanish South America and was closely associated with Simon Bolivar. Having become a well-respected merchant he was elected a Member of the Council of State at Curacao. He built and ran the family plantation, "Roosetak/Roose Tak/Rozentak" (Rose Brier) in the Jewish Quarter of Curacao. He was the father of five children including Admiral Brion and Charlotte of the Gracie Mansion, New York.