Philip Salomons

Philip Salomons (1796–1867) was an English financier, Jewish leader and High Sheriff of Sussex.

Biography

Early life

Philip Salomons was born in London in 1796. He travelled extensively in the United States as a young man, and became a naturalized American citizen in 1826. Later that year, however, he returned to England and resumed his British citizenship.^[1]

Career

His father was a financier in the City of London, as was his brother, Sir David Salomons (1797-1873). Similarly, he became a financier in the City of London.

Judaism

He followed his father as Warden of London's New Synagogue in 1843. He succeeded his brother as a representative on the Board of Deputies of British Jews. A devout man, he had his own private Roof-top synagogue on top of his Hove home.^[2] He was a noted collector of antique Judaica.^[3][4][5] The Tablets of the Ten Commandments from the synagogue are preserved in the collection of the Salomons Museum in Tunbridge Wells.

Public office

He served as Justice of the Peace, High Sheriff of Sussex (1852)^[6] and Deputy Lieutenant of the County.^[7]

Personal life

He married Emma Abigail Montefiore (1833–1859) in 1850 when he was 54 and she was 17. She died aged 26 and he died eight years later; their children were reared by Sir David Salomons.^[8] The couple are buried in the West Ham Jewish Cemetery.^[9] They had a son, Sir David Lionel Salomons (1851-1925).

References