[1] Victor Henry Rothschild was one of seven children born to a Jewish family on April 6, 1835, in Nordstetten, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

[1] In 1854, at the invitation of his brother-in-law, he moved to Mount Carroll, Illinois, where they opened a retail store in Rothschild's name all the while he kept his distribution business operating.

[1] His ventures were successful and his brother Marx emigrated from Germany to join the business.

[1] The advent of the American Civil War required that he shutter his business and he moved to New York City while his brother returned to Germany to care for their ailing father.

[1] Once settled, he was able to start a new business manufacturing négligée shirts then a new trend.