[a][4] Schneider quickly showed he had a strong business sense with exceptional qualities of listening, understanding, analysis and improvisation.

In 1829 Seillière began to give him a share in the profits from supplies of wool, wheat and wood from the north and from marine insurance.

[3] Schneider received a 2% commission on all the merchandise, which gave him enough capital to go into business on his own account as a cloth merchant.

[1] Around this time Schneider formed a relationship with the owners of the Le Creusot ironworks, and loaned them money.

[4] The works at Le Creusot had been founded fifty years before by a company partly owned by King Louis XVI of France.

In 1827 the baron de Neuflize employed him as manager of a forge near Sedan, a position he held for nearly ten years.

[4] In 1835 Schneider obtained financing and acquired the works at Le Creusot from the purchaser at a premium of one million francs.

[1] The industrial empire of Schneider et Cie. based on metallurgy and armament manufacturing prospered with the development of railways, iron ships and modern weapons such as machine guns, tanks and artillery.