Montagne (Altenberg) near Aachen. During the first decade of the eighteenth century he developed links with Shropshire. He established a copper smelter and a brass works in Coalbrookdale and in 1708 leased

by rail. He was born in Liège to a wealthy family who had interests in railways and banking, and links to the Belgian royal house. As a young man he travelled in the United States and was impressed with