Joseph Jonas
Encyclopedia
Joseph Jonas was the German
-born Lord Mayor of Sheffield
, England in 1904–05.
Jonas was born in Bingen am Rhein
, Prussia
in 1845, and became a naturalized British citizen in 1876. The same year he married Lucy Ann Earle; they had 5 sons and one daughter. After Jonas' death his widow remarried, to William Clegg
. He was Jewish and had fled his home country in 1867 to avoid military service. He went to Sheffield
in about 1870 to start a steel business. He prospered and with partners ran the Continental Steel Works, which by 1890 was one of the most successful in the area, particularly with its production of high speed steel
.
He became a town councillor in 1890 and Lord Mayor
in 1904, receiving a knighthood the same year. He was a Justice of the Peace
and a benefactor of the University of Sheffield
, particularly the Applied Sciences, and also helped establish chairs in German and French. His picture now hangs in Mappin Hall of the University, and his mansion became student accommodation, Halifax Hall.
Jonas was stripped of his knighthood in 1918 after being convicted of a misdemeanour as a result of the anti-German sentiments in Britain at the time because of the First World War. (His crime had been discussions with a potential German customer in 1913, a year before the war.) In addition, his British citizenship was revoked but he was not deported.
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
-born Lord Mayor of Sheffield
Lord Mayor of Sheffield
The Lord Mayor of Sheffield is a ceremonial post held by a member of Sheffield City Council. They are elected annually by the council. The post originated in 1843, with the appointment of William Jeffcock as the first Mayor of Sheffield...
, England in 1904–05.
Jonas was born in Bingen am Rhein
Bingen am Rhein
Bingen am Rhein is a town in the Mainz-Bingen district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.The settlement’s original name was Bingium, a Celtic word that may have meant “hole in the rock”, a description of the shoal behind the Mäuseturm, known as the Binger Loch. Bingen was the starting point for the...
, Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
in 1845, and became a naturalized British citizen in 1876. The same year he married Lucy Ann Earle; they had 5 sons and one daughter. After Jonas' death his widow remarried, to William Clegg
William Clegg
-External links:****...
. He was Jewish and had fled his home country in 1867 to avoid military service. He went to Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
in about 1870 to start a steel business. He prospered and with partners ran the Continental Steel Works, which by 1890 was one of the most successful in the area, particularly with its production of high speed steel
High speed steel
High speed steelMost copyeditors today would tend to choose to style the unit adjective high-speed with a hyphen, rendering the full term as high-speed steel, and this styling is not uncommon . However, it is true that in the metalworking industries the styling high speed steel is long-established...
.
He became a town councillor in 1890 and Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
in 1904, receiving a knighthood the same year. He was a Justice of the Peace
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...
and a benefactor of the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
, particularly the Applied Sciences, and also helped establish chairs in German and French. His picture now hangs in Mappin Hall of the University, and his mansion became student accommodation, Halifax Hall.
Jonas was stripped of his knighthood in 1918 after being convicted of a misdemeanour as a result of the anti-German sentiments in Britain at the time because of the First World War. (His crime had been discussions with a potential German customer in 1913, a year before the war.) In addition, his British citizenship was revoked but he was not deported.
Death
Joseph Jonas died in August 1921 because of a stroke. He was buried in All Saints Church, EcclesallAll Saints Church, Ecclesall
All Saints is a Church of England parish church in Sheffield, England. It is a Grade II listed building, and is located in Ecclesall, between Ringinglow Road and Ecclesall Road....
.