Sassoon David Sassoon
| Sassoon David Sassoon | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1832 Mumbai, British India |
| Died |
1867 Langham Hotel, London, England, UK |
| Cause of death | Heart defect/disease |
| Resting place | Jewish Cemetery, Mile End |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation |
Businessman Banker Philanthropist |
| Parent(s) |
David Sassoon Farha Hayim or Hyeem |
Sassoon David Sassoon (1832–1867) was a British businessman, banker and philanthropist.
Biography
Early life
Sassoon David Sassoon was born in August 1832 in Bombay, India.[1][2] He was a member of the Sassoon family. His father was David Sassoon (1792–1864), a leading trader of cotton and opium who served as the treasurer of Baghdad between 1817 and 1829, and his mother, Farha Hayim of Baghdad.[1] He suffered from poor health from infancy but travelled widely.[3]
He was educated in biblical and Talmudic lore in Baghdad.[2] He also spoke several Oriental languages with great fluency.[2]
Business career
He proceeded to Shanghai, where he conducted the mercantile operations of the Chinese branch of the firm of David Sassoon, Sons & Co.[2] He went to London in 1858, where he opened a bank on Leadenhall Street.[1][2] The business grew exponentially during the American Civil War, as they suddenly became the main suppliers of cotton to British spinning mills and the British market.[1]
Philanthropy
He served as President of a committee which had for its object the organization of an expedition to the Jews in China, Abyssinia, and the East. He was also a member of the council of Jews' College and of the committee of the Jews' Free School, which two institutions he munificently endowed.[1] He was also a warden of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue.[1] For several years, he acted as examiner in Hebrew to the Jews' Free School.
Personal life
At the age of 18, he married Fahra Reuben (1838–1919) of Mumbai, daughter of Solomon Reuben Sassoon of Baghdad.[1] She later changed her name to Flora in England. They had four children:
- Joseph Sassoon Sassoon (1856–1918; married Louise de Gunzburg, a daughter of Horace Günzburg, and had 7 children).
- Rachel Sassoon Beer (1858–1927; married Frederick Arthur Beer, son of Julius Beer).[1]
- Alfred Ezra Sassoon (1861–1895; married Theresa Thornycroft and had three sons, one of whom was Siegfried Sassoon).
- Frederick Meyer Sassoon (1862–1889); married unknown and had two daughters.
They resided at Ashley Park in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey and equally at 17 Cumberland Terrace next to Regent's Park in St Pancras, London.[1] He died in 1867 in London, leaving an estate of £120,000 (equivalent to £9,580,000 in 2015).[1] Later, Flora moved to 37 Adelaide Crescent in Hove, East Sussex.[4]
References
See also
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "article name needed". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.