Goldsmid
Encyclopedia
Goldsmid is the name of a family of Anglo-Jewish
bankers who sprang from Aaron Goldsmid (died 1782), a Dutch
merchant
who settled in England
about 1763. Two of his sons, Benjamin Goldsmid (c. 1753-1808) and Abraham Goldsmid (c. 1756-1810), began business together about 1777 as bill-brokers in London
, and soon became great powers in the money market, during the Napoleonic war, through their dealings with the government. Abraham Goldsmid was in 1810 joint contractor with the Barings
for a government loan, but owing to a depreciation of the scrip he was forced into bankruptcy
and committed suicide
. His brother, in a fit of depression, had similarly taken his own life two years before. Both were noted for their public and private generosity, and both played major roles in funding, and managing the Naval Asylum - later renamed the Royal Naval Asylum
. Benjamin left four sons, the youngest being Lionel Prager Goldsmid; Abraham a daughter, Isabel.
They had a nephew, Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid
. Isaac had married his cousin Isabel (see above), and their second son was Sir Francis Henry Goldsmid
, Bart. (1808-1878). Francis Henry became the first Jew to become an English barrister
, and went on to represent the Reading constituency
. He, like his father, married a cousin, and, dying without issue, was succeeded in the baronetcy by his nephew Sir Julian Goldsmid
, Bart. (1838-1896), son of Frederick David Goldsmid (1812-1866), long MP for Honiton
. Sir Julian was for many years in Parliament, and his wealth, ability and influence made him a personage of considerable importance. He was eventually made a privy councillor. He had eight daughters, but no son, and his entailed property passed to his relation, Osmond Elim d'Avigdor
, his house in Piccadilly
being converted into the Isthmian Club.
Another distinguished member of the same family, Sir Frederic John Goldsmid
(1818-1908), son of Lionel Prager Goldsmid (see above).
A sister of the last-named married Henry Edward Goldsmid (1812-1855), an eminent Indian civil servant, son of Edward Goldsmid; his reform of the revenue
system in Bombay, and introduction of a new system, established after his death, through his reports in 1840-1847, and his devoted labor in land-surveys, were of the highest importance to western India, and established his memory there as a public benefactor.
History of the Jews in England
The history of the Jews in England goes back to the reign of William I. The first written record of Jewish settlement in England dates from 1070, although Jews may have lived there since Roman times...
bankers who sprang from Aaron Goldsmid (died 1782), a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
who settled in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
about 1763. Two of his sons, Benjamin Goldsmid (c. 1753-1808) and Abraham Goldsmid (c. 1756-1810), began business together about 1777 as bill-brokers in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and soon became great powers in the money market, during the Napoleonic war, through their dealings with the government. Abraham Goldsmid was in 1810 joint contractor with the Barings
Barings Bank
Barings Bank was the oldest merchant bank in London until its collapse in 1995 after one of the bank's employees, Nick Leeson, lost £827 million due to speculative investing, primarily in futures contracts, at the bank's Singapore office.-History:-1762–1890:Barings Bank was founded in 1762 as the...
for a government loan, but owing to a depreciation of the scrip he was forced into bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
and committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. His brother, in a fit of depression, had similarly taken his own life two years before. Both were noted for their public and private generosity, and both played major roles in funding, and managing the Naval Asylum - later renamed the Royal Naval Asylum
Royal Naval Asylum
The Royal Naval Asylum was an educational institution, founded under the name The British National Endeavour in 1798, by a Mr Andrew Thompson who strongly excited the charity of the British population by his ideas for a small "industrial school" for the orphans of military and naval personnel...
. Benjamin left four sons, the youngest being Lionel Prager Goldsmid; Abraham a daughter, Isabel.
They had a nephew, Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid
Isaac Lyon Goldsmid
Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, Baronet was a financier and one of the leading figures in the Jewish emancipation in the United Kingdom....
. Isaac had married his cousin Isabel (see above), and their second son was Sir Francis Henry Goldsmid
Francis Henry Goldsmid
Sir Francis Henry Goldsmid, 2nd Baronet was an Anglo-Jewish barrister and politician.The son of Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid and a member of the Goldsmid banking family, Francis was born in London, and privately educated. He was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1833, becoming the first Jew to...
, Bart. (1808-1878). Francis Henry became the first Jew to become an English barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, and went on to represent the Reading constituency
Reading (UK Parliament constituency)
Reading was a parliamentary borough, and later a borough constituency, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It comprised the town of Reading in the county of Berkshire....
. He, like his father, married a cousin, and, dying without issue, was succeeded in the baronetcy by his nephew Sir Julian Goldsmid
Sir Julian Goldsmid, 3rd Baronet
Sir Julian Goldsmid, 3rd Baronet was a British lawyer, businessman and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1866 and 1896....
, Bart. (1838-1896), son of Frederick David Goldsmid (1812-1866), long MP for Honiton
Honiton
Honiton is a town and civil parish in East Devon, situated close to the River Otter, north east of Exeter in the county of Devon. The town's name is pronounced in two ways, and , each pronunciation having its adherents...
. Sir Julian was for many years in Parliament, and his wealth, ability and influence made him a personage of considerable importance. He was eventually made a privy councillor. He had eight daughters, but no son, and his entailed property passed to his relation, Osmond Elim d'Avigdor
Avigdor
Avigdor a small moshav in southern Israel. Located south of Kiryat Malakhi and 11 km north of Kiryat Gat and covering 3.75 km², it falls under the jurisdiction of Be'er Tuvia Regional Council...
, his house in Piccadilly
Piccadilly
Piccadilly is a major street in central London, running from Hyde Park Corner in the west to Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is completely within the city of Westminster. The street is part of the A4 road, London's second most important western artery. St...
being converted into the Isthmian Club.
Another distinguished member of the same family, Sir Frederic John Goldsmid
Frederic John Goldsmid
Major-General Sir Frederic John Goldsmid KCSI, CB was a Major-General in British Army and East India Company, who also served the British government in various roles through the Middle East.-Life and career:Goldsmid was born at Milan, Italy in August 1818, the only son of Eliza Frances and Mr...
(1818-1908), son of Lionel Prager Goldsmid (see above).
A sister of the last-named married Henry Edward Goldsmid (1812-1855), an eminent Indian civil servant, son of Edward Goldsmid; his reform of the revenue
Revenue
In business, revenue is income that a company receives from its normal business activities, usually from the sale of goods and services to customers. In many countries, such as the United Kingdom, revenue is referred to as turnover....
system in Bombay, and introduction of a new system, established after his death, through his reports in 1840-1847, and his devoted labor in land-surveys, were of the highest importance to western India, and established his memory there as a public benefactor.
Goldsmid Baronets
- Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, 1st Baronet (1778–1859)
- Sir Francis Henry Goldsmid, 2nd Baronet (1808-1878)
- Sir Julian Goldsmid, 3rd BaronetSir Julian Goldsmid, 3rd BaronetSir Julian Goldsmid, 3rd Baronet was a British lawyer, businessman and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1866 and 1896....
(1838-1896)
See also
- Anna Maria GoldsmidAnna Maria GoldsmidAnna Maria Goldsmid , benefactor and translator, was the eldest child of Isaac Lyon Goldsmid and the sister of Sir Francis Henry Goldsmid....
- Frederic John GoldsmidFrederic John GoldsmidMajor-General Sir Frederic John Goldsmid KCSI, CB was a Major-General in British Army and East India Company, who also served the British government in various roles through the Middle East.-Life and career:Goldsmid was born at Milan, Italy in August 1818, the only son of Eliza Frances and Mr...
- Louisa Sophia, Lady Goldsmid
- Henry d'Avigdor-GoldsmidHenry d'Avigdor-GoldsmidMajor-General Sir Henry Joseph "Harry" d'Avigdor-Goldsmid, 2nd Baronet DSO, MC, DL, TD , was a British army officer, company director and politician....
- James d'Avigdor-GoldsmidJames d'Avigdor-GoldsmidMajor-General Sir James Arthur d'Avigdor-Goldsmid, 3rd Baronet CB OBE MC was a British Army officer and British Conservative politician...