Sir Benjamin Cohen, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Benjamin Louis Cohen, Baronet (18 November 1844 – 8 November 1909) was a British
businessman and Conservative
politician.
He was the son of Louis Cohen, a stockbroker, and his wife Rebecca Keyser. After a private education entered his father's firm. Apart from his business activities he was involved in public and political works and in supporting Jewish charities. In particular he served on the committees of the Stepney
Jewish Schools, the Jews' Orphan Asylum and the Home for Aged Jews.
In 1887 his brother, Lionel Louis Cohen
, president of the Board of Guardians for the Relief of the Jewish Poor, died. Benjamin succeeded him in the post, holding the office until 1900. During his term he was very successful in raising large sums of money for the charity. He also altered the board's constitution, allowing women to be members.
In the 1880s he was involved in the resettlement of Russian Jews, and supported proto-Zionist groups seeking to settle in Palestine
.
In 1889 he was elected as one of the members of the first London County Council
, representing the City of London
for the Conservative-supported Moderate Party
. He retained the seat until 1904. His brothers, Alfred and Nathaniel, were also members of the council.
At the 1892 general election
he was elected to the Commons as Unionist member of parliament
for Islington East
. He held the seat for eleven years, until he was defeated in the Liberal
landslide of 1906
.
In 1905 he was created a baronet
"of Highfield in the parish of Shoreham and county of Kent". Cohen died after a long illness at his home in Hyde Park Gardens, London, in November 1909 aged 64.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
businessman and Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician.
He was the son of Louis Cohen, a stockbroker, and his wife Rebecca Keyser. After a private education entered his father's firm. Apart from his business activities he was involved in public and political works and in supporting Jewish charities. In particular he served on the committees of the Stepney
Stepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
Jewish Schools, the Jews' Orphan Asylum and the Home for Aged Jews.
In 1887 his brother, Lionel Louis Cohen
Lionel Louis Cohen
Lionel Louis Cohen was an English financier, politician, and communal worker. He remarried 3 times before his death. He served as a trustee and later manager of the London Stock Exchange, and became the head of his father's firm Louis Cohen & Sons...
, president of the Board of Guardians for the Relief of the Jewish Poor, died. Benjamin succeeded him in the post, holding the office until 1900. During his term he was very successful in raising large sums of money for the charity. He also altered the board's constitution, allowing women to be members.
In the 1880s he was involved in the resettlement of Russian Jews, and supported proto-Zionist groups seeking to settle in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
.
In 1889 he was elected as one of the members of the first London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
, representing the City of London
City of London (UK Parliament constituency)
The City of London was a United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1950.-Boundaries and boundary...
for the Conservative-supported Moderate Party
Municipal Reform Party
The Municipal Reform Party was a local party allied to the parliamentary Conservative Party in the County of London. The party contested elections to both the London County Council and metropolitan borough councils of the county from 1906 to 1945.-Formation:...
. He retained the seat until 1904. His brothers, Alfred and Nathaniel, were also members of the council.
At the 1892 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1892
The 1892 United Kingdom general election was held from 4 July to 26 July 1892. It saw the Conservatives, led by Lord Salisbury, win the greatest number of seats, but not enough for an overall majority as William Ewart Gladstone's Liberals won many more seats than in the 1886 general election...
he was elected to the Commons as Unionist member of parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Islington East
Islington East (UK Parliament constituency)
Islington East was a constituency which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885, until it was abolished for the February 1974 general election.-1885–1918:...
. He held the seat for eleven years, until he was defeated in the Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
landslide of 1906
United Kingdom general election, 1906
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
.
In 1905 he was created a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
"of Highfield in the parish of Shoreham and county of Kent". Cohen died after a long illness at his home in Hyde Park Gardens, London, in November 1909 aged 64.