As »Discount and Acceptance House« Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. enjoyed an excellent reputation way beyond the Hamburg city limits. Shipping and insurance formed a natural complement to the traditional business. When Amsterdam went out of commission as an exchange centre because of the armies of the French Revolution, Hamburg took over. The Hanseatic finance houses, the money, fund and exchange brokers such as Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co., had new areas of activity as a result.

Alongside their activities in the free economy the merchants were increasingly assuming a role in the raising of funds for governmental authorities. England – particularly concerned to keep the unrest caused by the French Revolution at bay – made funds available to support Prussia and above all Austria against France. The transfers were carried out via Hamburg, Viennese and Frankfurt bankers – part of this business also fell to Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co.

Johann Hinrich Gossler did not live to see these very successful years around the turn of the 18th to the 19th century. He died in 1790 at the early age of 52. His son Johann Heinrich joined the company in 1798.

The Napoleonic troops occupied Hamburg as well in November 1806. The imposition of the continental embargo hit the city hard. Economic life stagnated over a period of years. Via the small Schleswig-Holstein ports of Glücksburg and Tönning as alternative quarters, it was only possible to maintain trade in a makeshift fashion. After the end of the wars of liberation the city recovered remarkably quickly especially given the generous loans out of England. Great Britain, always an important partner, became increasingly important for the economy of the Hanseatic city from now on and the relations to the countries on the continent receded somewhat. Trade with the young South American states and in particular with North America came in addition.