Leopold Kronenberg was born on 24 March 1812 in Warsaw in a wealthy Jewish family, a son to Samuel and Tekla. Leopold's father, a Warsaw merchant and banker, died in 1826.

Leopold's talents and connections in Warsaw administration and business community brought him a considerable fortune. The origins of his wealth date back to the years 1842-43 when he administrated the tobacco monopoly in the Polish Kingdom. His successful reorganization brought the business to such effectiveness that the tsarist administration invited him to restructure their monopoly. Kronenberg used acquired wealth to become involved in numerous businesses in he Polish Kingdom, notably sugar refinery, which lead to his cooperation with the landed gentry. Another vital source of Kronenberg's wealth was his share in railroad construction. It is to this end that he initiated business contacts with financers from France and other countries.

Kronenberg did not limit himself to business only. To the extend available in the political context of the era, he also took active part in the public life.

He was a member of Board of Warsaw Stock Market, senior member of the Merchant Association, founder of the Credit Association of Warsaw, Industrialists Fund, Warsaw Fire Insurance Association. He was involved in the founding of the Museum of Industry and Agriculture in Warsaw and granted financial support to the Technical Railroad School. In 1875 he financed the establishment of Commercial School in Warsaw (present Warsaw School of Economics).

The most notable achievement of Leopold Kronenberg was the founding, with other Warsaw financiers, Russian dignitaries, aristocrats and inteligensia, of a banking house - Bank Handlowy w Warszawie, the largest bank in the country and one of the first three created in Poland.

Leopold Kronenberg's pro-bono work is continued by the Leopold Kronenberg Foundation created on the 125^th anniversary of the founding of Bank Handlowy.

Source: Landau, J. Tomaszewski, Bank Handlowy w Warszawie S.A. Zarys dziejów 1870-1995, Warszawa 1995.