Leonard Lewisohn (philanthropist)

Leonard Lewisohn
Born October 10, 1847
Hamburg
Died March 5, 1902 (aged 54)
London
Cause of death
 Heart attack
Religion Jewish
Spouse(s) Rosalie Jacobs (1849–1900) (m. 1870)
Children Jesse Lewisohn (1872–1918)
Alice Lewisohn (1883–1972)
Irene Lewisohn (1886–1944)
Relatives Adolph Lewisohn, brother

Leonard Lewisohn (October 10, 1847 – March 5, 1902) was an American merchant and philanthropist.

Biography

He was born in Hamburg, Germany, to Jewish parents, Julie and Samuel Lewisohn. In 1863, Samuel, a prominent Hamburg merchant, sent Leonard and his brother, Julius Lewisohn, to the United States, as his firm's representatives; about three years later they were joined by their younger brother, Adolph Lewisohn, and they formed the firm of Lewisohn Brothers in January 1866. As early as 1868, the firm turned its attention to the metal trade, becoming prominent dealers in lead during that year. He married Rosalie Jacobs on June 29, 1870, in Manhattan.[1] They had the following children: Jesse Lewisohn, Walter Lewisohn, Frederick Lewisohn, Oscar Lewisohn (1884–1917), Lillie A. Lewisohn, Irene Lewisohn, Alice Lewisohn, and Florine Lewisohn.[2][3][4][5][6]

He was president of the United Metals Selling Company. Lewisohn was prominent in philanthropy. He contributed to the Alliance colony in New Jersey, founded in 1882, and to almost every philanthropic institution in New York, regardless of creed. He likewise acted as treasurer of the Hebrew Sheltering Guardian Society in New York, to which institution he gave his counsel and large sums of money. He was one of the largest contributors to the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and to the Montefiore Sanatorium for consumptives.

He died on March 5, 1902 and left an estate worth $12 million (equivalent to $330 million in 2014).[2][7]

References

  1. ↑ New York City Marriage Index
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Leonard Lewisohn Left $12,000,000" (PDF). New York Times. April 3, 1902. Retrieved 2008-12-15. A State Appraiser's report, filed yesterday in the Surrogates' Court, shows that Leonard Lewisohn left an estate of $12,029,213 when he died on March 5, 1902. Of this $11,706,547 was personal and $322,666 real property. Deductions of funeral expenses, commissions of the executors and trustees, and stocks that had not been delivered at the time of his death brought the total down to $11,706,547 net.
  3. ↑ "Jesse Lewisohn Dies at 46. Copper Man and Patron of the Turf a Victim of Spanish Influenza.". New York Times. December 1, 1918. Retrieved 2008-12-19. Jesse Lewisohn, copper man and turf patron, formerly owner of a string of racing horses, died yesterday at the Netherland Hotel, Fifty-ninth Street and Fifth Avenue. He was taken ill a week ago of Spanish influenza, which developed into double pneumonia and caused his death.
  4. ↑ "Irene Lewisohn Dies. Founder Neighborhood Playhouse and Museum of Costume Art". New York Times. April 5, 1944. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
  5. ↑ "1944". Playbill. Retrieved 2008-12-16. Philanthropist Irene Lewisohn died today in New York City. She and her sister Alice built and endowed the Neighborhood Playhouse. With Aline Bernstein she founded the Museum of Costume Art on Fifth Avenue in 1937.
  6. ↑ "Lewisohn - Lewisohn". New York Times. March 23, 1900. Retrieved 2008-12-19. Albert Lewisohn of New York was married to Miss Lillie Lewisohn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Lewisohn of the same city, in Touro Synagogue at noon to-day.
  7. ↑ "He Succumbed to Pneumonia in London After a Three Days' Illness. Was Fifty-four Years Old." (PDF). New York Times. March 6, 1902. Retrieved 2008-12-15.

Further reading