Page:Jewish Encyclopedia Volume 6.djvu/60

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
Goldsmid
THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA
30

the earlier stages of the war he was commandant of the Orange River, Herbert, and Hay districts. 1900. Colonel Goldsmid is an ardent Zionist, and is chief of the Chovevei Zion of Great Britain and Ire- land. The success of the Jewish Lads’ Brigade in London and the provinces is mainly due to Gold- smid’s initiative. In 1903 he became president of the Maccabeans, of which he had been one of the founders. Bibliographyː Jew. Chron. Dec. 8, 1899; Foung Israel, 1.


Anna Maria Goldsmid: Writer and communal worker; born in London Sept. 17, 1805; died there Feb. 8, 1889; daughter of Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, Bart. She was a pupil of the poet Thomas Camp- bell, and translated (1839) into English twelve ser- mons delivered by Dr. Gotthold Salomon at Ham- burg, Ludwig Phillipson’s “Die Entwickelung der Religidsen Idee” (1858), and J. Cohen’s “Les Déi- cides” (1872). Miss Goldsmid also published many original pamphlets on educational and other ques- tions, and the formation of the Jews’ Infant-Schools was largely due to her enthnsiasm and support. She was also interested in University College School and Hospital and the Jews’ Deaf and Dumb Home.

BIBLIOGRAPHY : Jew. Chron. and Jew. World, Feb. 15, 1889; Allibone, Dictionary of Authors.


Benjamin Goldsmid: English financier and philanthropist; born in Holland 1755; committed suicide April 15, 1808; eldest son of Aaron Gold- smid, a London merchant. In 1777 Benjamin and his brother Abraham established themselves in busi- ness as bill-brokers. Their means increased on the death of an uncle in Holland who bequeathed to them £15,000. The marriage of Benjamin Gold- smid to Jessie, daughter of Israel Levin Salomons of Clapton, with a dowry of £100,000, placed the credit of the firm on a solid footing. Large sums passed through the hands of the Goldsmids in the purchase and sale of bullion, stocks, navy and ex- chequer bills, and in negotiating English and foreign bills of exchange. They became the largest loan- contractors of their day in England. Benjamin’s great wealth brought him much social recognition, and he was intimately connected with Pitt, whose financial schemes were largely carried out through him, and with several members of the royal family, who visited him at Roehampton.

Goldsmid was the founder of the Naval Asylum, which for a time was under his management. The two brothers collected a fund for a Jewish hospital. This was never erected, but some of the money raised was used in building and endowing the Neweh Zedek at Mile End.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Gentleman’s Magazine, |xxviii.; L. Alexan- der, Memoirs; Young Israel, i., No.6; Jew. World, March, 1878; Picciotto, Sketches of Anglo-Jewish History, pp. 249- 252, London, 1875.


Sir Francis Goldsmid: English philanthropist and politician; born in Spital square, London, May 1, 1808; died May 2, 1878. The eldest son of Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, Bart., he was educated pri- vately, and was called to the bar in 1888, becomin £ queen’s counsel in 1858. Jn 1859 he succeeded to his father’s honors, which included a barony of Portugal. He entered Parliament in 1860 as mem- ber for Reading, through a by-election, and represented that constituency in the Liberal interest until his death. While still a young man he actively cooperated with his father to secure tothe Jews full emancipation from civil and political disabilities. In 1839 he wrote “ Remarks on the Civil Disubilities of the Jews,” and in 1848 “A Reply to the Argu- ments Against the Removal of the Remaining Disa- bilities of the Jews.” He was one of the chief sup- porters of University College, and gave material aid to University College Hospital.

He was associated with various Jewish relig- ious and charitable organizations. He was con- nected with the Reform movement from its com- mnencement, and was elected president of the Council of Founders of the West London Synagogue. He was vice-president of the Anglo-Jewish Association from its establishment in 1871, and was president of the Rumanian Committee which originated in the association. His greatest services to his race were, however, in the direction of improving the social condition of the Jews in those countries in which they were oppressed. The condition of the Poles in 1863 moved him to organize meetings for the pur- pose of securing some alleviation of their sufferings, and he also forcibly protested on several occasions in Parliament against the oppression of the Jews, notably that in Servia and Rumania.

Goldsmid was deputy lieutenant for Berks and a justice of the peace for Berksand Gloucester. Hav- ing no children, the baronetcy devolved upon his b nephew, Julian Goldsmid. His writings include, besides those already mentioned : “Two Letters in Answer to the Objections Urged Against Mr. Grant’s Bill for the Relief of the Jews” (1830); “A Few Words Respecting the Enfranchisement of British Jews Addressed to the New Parliament” (1888); “A Scheme of Peerage Reform, with Reasons for the Scheme ” (1885).

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Marks and Lowy, Life of Sir Francis Gold- amid, 1882; Jew. Chron. and Jew. World, May 10, 1878; The Times (London), May 4, 1878.


Frederick David Goldsmid: English member of Parliament; born in London 1812; died there March 18, 1866. He was the second son of Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, and was educated at University College, London. After his marriage (1884) he spent a year in Italy, and on returning to England, became a member of the firm of Mocatta & Gold- smid. Goldsmid was an active member of the Metropolitan Association for Improving the Dwell- ings of the Laboring Classes, as well as of a large number of Jewish charities. Hc was also a mem- ber of the council of University College, London, and of the committee of the college hospital, as well as president of the Jews’ Hospital and of the West Metropolitan Jewish School.

Goldsmid was member of Parliament for Honiton from July, 1865, until his death.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Jew. Chron. March 23, 1866; Boase, Modern English Biography, Truro, 1898.


Henry Edward Goldsmid: Indian civil servant; born in London May 9, 1812; died at Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 8, 1855. He entered the service of the East India Company in 1882, and three years later became assistant revenue commissioner for Bombay. While occupying this post he devised the