Profile Text
official U.S. Department of Commerce photo of Mosbacher, c. 1989
Birth Name: Robert Adam Mosbacher
Date of Birth: March 11, 1927
Place of Birth: Mount Vernon, New York, U.S.
Date of Death: January 24, 2010
Place of Death: Houston, Texas, U.S.
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
Robert Mosbacher was an American businessperson, politician, and yacht racer. He served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce, from January 31, 1989 to January 15, 1992.
Robert was the son of Gertrude (Schwartz) and Emil Mosbacher. His brother, Emil Mosbacher, was a yachtsman who twice won the America’s Cup, was the founding chairman of Operation Sail, and was Chief of Protocol of the U.S. He was married to Jane Pennybacker, until her death, with whom he had four children, including filmmaker, psychiatrist, and lesbian feminist activist Dee Mosbacher and businessperson Robert Mosbacher, Jr., who founded BizCorps and was head of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). Robert was later married to Mica McCutchen Duncan, until his death.
Robert was from a Jewish family. He converted to the Presbyterian religion upon his marriage to Jane, and was later Episcopalian.
Robert’s paternal grandfather was Louis Mosbacher (the son of Mendel Mosbacher and Johanna Ehrlich). Louis was born in Eschau, Lower Franconia, Bavaria, Germany. Mendel was the son of Feibel Mosbacher and Charlotte Hahn.
Robert’s paternal grandmother was named Gerdie. Gerdie was born in Germany.
Robert’s maternal grandfather was named David Schwartz. David was born in Austria.
Robert’s maternal grandmother was named Susan/Susie Kriedel. Susan was born in New Jersey, to parents from Austria.
Sources: Genealogy of Robert Mosbacher – https://www.geni.com
Robert’s father on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Robert’s mother on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org