Buza Péter: Bridges of the Danube - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1999)

The city opened up and developed aroünd the new bridge

different versions. Two independent English experts were invited to appraise the plans. Clark’s proposal was accepted on 18 September 1838 by the National Commission, the body authorized to pass a decision. At the same session the Sina-founded Chain Bridge Share Company was commissioned to construct the bridge.

György Sina, who also gained support from Wo- dianer later, became the majority stockholder. The family history of this Vienna-based businessman would make a romantic novel. His father had fled to Vienna escaping from the Turkish occupiers of Greece who had brutally suppressed the country’s independence movement. He managed to salvage his fortune, too. As a talented businessman, he earned a reputation for his firm and himself in the countries of the Habsburg Monarchy. King Francis 1 granted him the title of Baron. His adventurous life is recorded in Hungarian literature by the celebrated author Jókai. The hero of his novel The Golden Man closely resembles György Sina, the founder of the dynasty. It was his son who set up the share company at Széchenyi’s request. The coat-of- arms of the family, together with that of the Széchenyis, was cast in iron to plans by Marschal- kó to embellish the bridge. Another interesting

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