Sassoon David Sassoon
Encyclopedia
Sassoon David Sassoon a British Indian merchant, was born at Bombay (now Mumbai
), a member of a family settled there since the beginning of the 16th century, and previously in Spain
. He was the eldest son by the second marriage of his father David Sassoon
to Farha Hayim.
His father was a leading Baghdad merchant but was driven by repeated anti-Semitic outbreaks to remove from Baghdad to Bushire, in what is now Iran
, and, in 1832, settled in Bombay where he founded a large banking and mercantile business. His business acumen soon made him one of the richest men in Bombay.
At an early age, Sassoon David Sassoon was initiated into Biblical and Talmudic lore.
At the age of 18, he married the fourteen-year-old Fahra Reuben of Bombay. After their marriage, they moved to Baghdad
but returned to Bombay for the birth of their first child Joseph.
Thence he proceeded to Shanghai
, where he conducted the mercantile operations of the China
branch of the firm of David Sassoon, Sons & Co. He went to London in 1858 and soon occupied a prominent position among the principal merchants of that city, being elected director of a number of important companies. He spoke several Oriental languages with great fluency.
His wife, who changed her name to Flora, joined him in London in 1860.
Sassoon David Sassoon was president of a committee which had for its object the organization of an expedition to the Jews in China, Abyssinia
, and the East; and was a member of the council of Jews' College
and of the committee of the Jews' Free School
, which two institutions he munificently endowed. He was also a warden of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue. For several years, he acted as examiner in Hebrew to the Jews' Free School. He died in 1867 in London
, survived by his wife and four children.
Sassoon David Sassoon was the grandfather of the poet Siegfried Sassoon
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
), a member of a family settled there since the beginning of the 16th century, and previously in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. He was the eldest son by the second marriage of his father David Sassoon
David Sassoon
David Sassoon was the treasurer of Baghdad between 1817 and 1829. He became the leader of the Jewish community in Bombay after Baghdadi Jews emigrated there.-Biography:...
to Farha Hayim.
His father was a leading Baghdad merchant but was driven by repeated anti-Semitic outbreaks to remove from Baghdad to Bushire, in what is now Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, and, in 1832, settled in Bombay where he founded a large banking and mercantile business. His business acumen soon made him one of the richest men in Bombay.
At an early age, Sassoon David Sassoon was initiated into Biblical and Talmudic lore.
At the age of 18, he married the fourteen-year-old Fahra Reuben of Bombay. After their marriage, they moved to Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
but returned to Bombay for the birth of their first child Joseph.
Thence he proceeded to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, where he conducted the mercantile operations of the China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
branch of the firm of David Sassoon, Sons & Co. He went to London in 1858 and soon occupied a prominent position among the principal merchants of that city, being elected director of a number of important companies. He spoke several Oriental languages with great fluency.
His wife, who changed her name to Flora, joined him in London in 1860.
Sassoon David Sassoon was president of a committee which had for its object the organization of an expedition to the Jews in China, Abyssinia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, and the East; and was a member of the council of Jews' College
Jews' College
-Origins and Remit Today:Jews' College, now known as the London School of Jewish Studies , was opened in Finsbury Square, London as a rabbinical seminary in 1855 with the support of Chief Rabbi Nathan Adler and of Sir Moses Montefiore, who had conceived the idea for such a venture as early as...
and of the committee of the Jews' Free School
Jews' Free School
JFS is a Jewish secondary school in Kenton, north London. It presently accepts both male and female students. At one time it had more than 4,000 students attending making this school the largest Jewish school in Europe. The school has been awarded specialist Humanities College status...
, which two institutions he munificently endowed. He was also a warden of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue. For several years, he acted as examiner in Hebrew to the Jews' Free School. He died in 1867 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...
, survived by his wife and four children.
Sassoon David Sassoon was the grandfather of the poet Siegfried Sassoon
Siegfried Sassoon
Siegfried Loraine Sassoon CBE MC was an English poet, author and soldier. Decorated for bravery on the Western Front, he became one of the leading poets of the First World War. His poetry both described the horrors of the trenches, and satirised the patriotic pretensions of those who, in Sassoon's...