Benjamin Abram

Benjamin Abram
Born 23 September 1846
Marseille, France
Died 30 April 1938
Aix-en-Provence, France
Nationality French
Occupation Lawyer
Politician
Spouse(s) Esther Baze
Children Samuel Élie Paul Abram
Maurice David Joseph Abram
Parent(s) Abraham Abram
Précieuse Bédarrides

Benjamin Abram (1846-1938) was a French lawyer and politician. He served as the Mayor of Aix-en-Provence from 1888 to 1896. He was the third Jewish Mayor of Aix-en-Provence, and abandoned politics after the debacle of the antisemitic Dreyfus affair.

Biography

Early life

Benjamin Abram was born to a Jewish family on 23 September 1846 in Marseille.[1][2] His father, Abraham Abram, was a businessman, and his mother was Précieuse Bédarrides.[2] As a result, Jassuda Bédarrides (1804-1882), who served as the first Jewish Mayor of Aix-en-Provence from 1848 to 1849, was his maternal uncle.[3] Another uncle, Salomon Bédarrides, went on to serve as the Mayor of Aix-en-Provence from 1877 to 1884.

He was educated at the Lycée Thiers in Marseille, and studied the Law at the University of Aix-en-Provence.[2]

Career

He started his career as a lawyer in 1866.[1][2] He served as bâtonnier from 1885 to 1887.[4]

A supporter of the Republic and a Freemason, he embarked upon a career in politics. He served on the General Council representing Lambesc from 1880 to 1898.[2] He served as Mayor of Aix-en-Provence from 1888 to 1896, after being re-elected in 1892.[1][2][4][5] After the Dreyfus affair of 1894-1906, he abandoned politics and returned to practising the Law.[1][2] He received the Knighthood of the Legion of Honour in 1887.[4]

Personal life

On 6 September 1882, he married Esther Baze in Avignon.[2] They had two children:

He died on 30 April 1938 in Aix-en-Provence.[1]

Legacy

The Avenue Benjamin Abram in Aix-en-Provence is named in his honour.[1][2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Centre Darius Milhaud: Avenue Benjamin Abram
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 GeneProvence
  3. Charles Cohen, Les Grandes Figures du barreau d'Aix-en-Provence, Paris: Société des Écrivains, 2004, p. 154
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Paul Masson, Henri Barré, Encyclopédie départementale des Bouches-du-Rhône, Marseille, 1913, vol. 11, p. 3
  5. Jean-Rémy Palanque, Le Diocèse d'Aix-en-Provence, Aix-en-Provence: Editions Beauchesne, 1975, p. 217
Political offices
Preceded by
François Mandin
Mayor of Aix-en-Provence
1888-1896
Succeeded by
Gabriel Baron