Benjamin Benjamin
Encyclopedia
Sir Benjamin Benjamin JP
(1834-1905) was an Australian businessman and politician.
on 2 September 1834 to Moses Benjamin and Catherine Benjamin, née Moses. His family left for Australia in 1843 on a boat named London. He was educated in a school run by the Reverend William Jarrett, a Congregational minister.
went into business together. He retired from active involvement in business in 1878.
In 1870 he was elected to the Melbourne City Council in the Albert ward, becoming an Alderman in 1881 and Mayor between 1887 and 1889. He was the second Jewish Mayor of Melbourne, with his brother-in-law Edward Cohen
preceding him by over twenty years. He became the first Melbourne Mayor and first Jewish Australian to receive a knighthood when he was made a Knight Bachelor
in 1889.
In 1888 as Mayor of Melbourne Benjamin welcomed the Russia
n ship Rynda and Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia
who was visiting the Australian colonies in a goodwill mission in light of tensions between Britain and Russia.
He was elected as a member for the Melbourne Province of the Victorian Legislative Council
in 1889 and served until 1892.
on 7 March 1905. He was survived by his wife Fanny and 13 of his 16 children.
In 2009 a masonic apron believed to have been originally owned by Robert Burns
and subsequently purchased by Benjamin was auctioned by Michael Bennett-Levy, a descendent of Benjamin.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(1834-1905) was an Australian businessman and politician.
Early life and education
Benjamin was born in LondonLondon
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...
on 2 September 1834 to Moses Benjamin and Catherine Benjamin, née Moses. His family left for Australia in 1843 on a boat named London. He was educated in a school run by the Reverend William Jarrett, a Congregational minister.
Working life
After leaving school he joined M. Benjamin & Sons, his father's import and export business. In 1864 he and his brother-in-law Edward CohenEdward Cohen
Edward Cohen was an Australian merchant and a Victoria State politician. He served as Mayor of Melbourne from 1862 to 1863.-Early life:...
went into business together. He retired from active involvement in business in 1878.
Public life
Benjamin was heavily involved in the Melbourne Jewish community acting in various committee positions for the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation.In 1870 he was elected to the Melbourne City Council in the Albert ward, becoming an Alderman in 1881 and Mayor between 1887 and 1889. He was the second Jewish Mayor of Melbourne, with his brother-in-law Edward Cohen
Edward Cohen
Edward Cohen was an Australian merchant and a Victoria State politician. He served as Mayor of Melbourne from 1862 to 1863.-Early life:...
preceding him by over twenty years. He became the first Melbourne Mayor and first Jewish Australian to receive a knighthood when he was made a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1889.
In 1888 as Mayor of Melbourne Benjamin welcomed the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n ship Rynda and Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia
Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia
Grand Duke Alexander Mihailovich of Russia, Александр Михайлович Aleksandr Mihailovits was a dynast of the Russian Empire, a naval officer, an author, explorer, the brother-in-law of Emperor Nicholas II, and an advisor of the said Emperor.-Biography: Alexander was born the son of Grand Duke...
who was visiting the Australian colonies in a goodwill mission in light of tensions between Britain and Russia.
He was elected as a member for the Melbourne Province of the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
in 1889 and served until 1892.
Imperial Banking Co.
His tenure as a Member of the Legislative Council was brought to a close after he was declared bankrupt when the Imperial Banking Co. collapsed. He had offered personal guarantees on the bank's finances. A subsequent court investigation cleared him but his reputation was reduced and he left public life.Death and legacy
Benjamin died at his home at the corner of George and Powlett Streets in East MelbourneEast Melbourne, Victoria
East Melbourne is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, adjacent to Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne. At the 2006 Census, East Melbourne had a population of 4,330....
on 7 March 1905. He was survived by his wife Fanny and 13 of his 16 children.
In 2009 a masonic apron believed to have been originally owned by Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
and subsequently purchased by Benjamin was auctioned by Michael Bennett-Levy, a descendent of Benjamin.