Sassoon family
Encyclopedia
The Sassoon family was an Indian
family of Iraqi Jewish descent and international renown, based in Bombay, India
. It was descended from the famous Ibn Shoshans, one of the richest families of medieval Spain. From the late-18th century, the Sassoons were one of the wealthiest families in the world, with a merchant empire spanning the continent of Asia.
Sassoon ben Salih (1750 - 1830) and his family were financiers, chief treasurers to the pashas of Baghdad
and Southern Iraq. His son David
(1792 - 1864) fled from a new and unfriendly vali, going first to the Gulf port of Bushehr
in 1828 and then to Bombay, India
, in 1832, with his large family. In Bombay, he built the international business called David S. Sassoon, with the policy of staffing it with people brought from Baghdad. They filled the functions of the various branches of his business in India, Burma, Malay, and east Asia. In each branch, he maintained a rabbi. His wealth and munificence were proverbial, and his business extended to China - where Sassoon House (now the north wing of the Peace Hotel
) on the Bund
in Shanghai
became a noted landmark - and then to England. His philanthropy was legendary, and included, across Asia, the building of schools, orphanages, hospitals and museums. On his death, tributes to him were made from across the continent, by Muslims, Christians, Parsees, Jews and Hindus.
His eight sons also branched out into many directions. The Sassoon family was heavily involved in the shipping and opium production industry in China and India. Elias David
(1820 - 1880), his son by his first wife, had been the first of the sons to go to China, in 1844. He later returned to Bombay, before leaving the firm to establish E. D. Sassoon in 1867, with offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Another son, Albert Abdullah David Sassoon
(1818 - 1896) took on the running of the firm on his father's death, and notably constructed the Sassoon Docks
, the first wet dock built in western India. With two of his brothers he later became prominent in England and the family great friends of the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII.
Of those who settled in England, Sir Edward Albert Sassoon (1856 - 1912), the son of Albert, married Aline Caroline de Rothschild
, and was a Conservative member of Parliament from 1899 until his death. The seat was then inherited by his son Sir Philip Sassoon
(1888 - 1939) from 1912 until his death. Sir Philip served in World War I as military secretary to Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig
and, during the 1920s and 1930s, as Britain's undersecretary of state for air. The twentieth-century English poet, one of the best known World War I poets, Siegfried Sassoon
(1886 - 1967) was David's great-grandson. Another descendant of Sassoon David Sassoon
is the British banker and government minister Lord James Sassoon. In the 19th century, one daughter of the family, Rachel Sassoon Beer
bought a number of newspapers in England, including The Sunday Times
(1893–1904) and The Observer
, which she also edited.
The branch that carried on the ancestral tradition has been represented by Rabbi Solomon David Sassoon (1915 - 1985), who moved from Letchworth
to London
and then to Jerusalem in 1970. He was the son of the David Sassoon who collected Jewish books and manuscripts and who catalogued them in Ohel David, in two volumes. This David was the son of Flora Abraham, who had moved from India to England in 1901 and established a famous salon in her London home. Solomon Sassoon had one son, Isaac S.D. Sassoon
, who is also a rabbi.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
family of Iraqi Jewish descent and international renown, based in Bombay, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It was descended from the famous Ibn Shoshans, one of the richest families of medieval Spain. From the late-18th century, the Sassoons were one of the wealthiest families in the world, with a merchant empire spanning the continent of Asia.
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...
and Southern Iraq. His son David
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:...
(1792 - 1864) fled from a new and unfriendly vali, going first to the Gulf port of Bushehr
Bushehr
Bushehr Bushehr lies in a vast plain running along the coastal region on the Persian Gulf coast of southwestern Iran. It is the chief seaport of the country and the administrative centre of its province. Its location is about south of Tehran. The local climate is hot and humid.The city...
in 1828 and then to Bombay, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, in 1832, with his large family. In Bombay, he built the international business called David S. Sassoon, with the policy of staffing it with people brought from Baghdad. They filled the functions of the various branches of his business in India, Burma, Malay, and east Asia. In each branch, he maintained a rabbi. His wealth and munificence were proverbial, and his business extended to China - where Sassoon House (now the north wing of the Peace Hotel
Peace Hotel
The Peace Hotel is a hotel on The Bund in Shanghai, China which overlooks the Huangpu River. The hotel today operates as two separate businesses. The North Building, built as Sassoon House, originally housed the Cathay Hotel and is today the Fairmont Peace Hotel run by Fairmont Hotel and Resorts...
) on the Bund
The Bund
The Bund is a waterfront area in central Shanghai, People's Republic of China. The area centres on a section of Zhongshan Road within the former Shanghai International Settlement, which runs along the western bank of the Huangpu River, facing Pudong, in the eastern part of Huangpu District...
in 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...
became a noted landmark - and then to England. His philanthropy was legendary, and included, across Asia, the building of schools, orphanages, hospitals and museums. On his death, tributes to him were made from across the continent, by Muslims, Christians, Parsees, Jews and Hindus.
His eight sons also branched out into many directions. The Sassoon family was heavily involved in the shipping and opium production industry in China and India. Elias David
Elias David Sassoon
Elias David Sassoon was a businessman involved in trade in India and the Far East....
(1820 - 1880), his son by his first wife, had been the first of the sons to go to China, in 1844. He later returned to Bombay, before leaving the firm to establish E. D. Sassoon in 1867, with offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Another son, Albert Abdullah David Sassoon
Albert Abdullah David Sassoon
Sir Albert Abdullah David Sassoon, 1st Baronet, KCB, CSI, , a British Indian philanthropist and merchant, was born a Jew in Baghdad, a member of a family that had lived there since the beginning of the 16th century, having been expelled from Spain in the 1490s. He was named Abdullah at birth, but...
(1818 - 1896) took on the running of the firm on his father's death, and notably constructed the Sassoon Docks
Sassoon Docks
thumb|250px|The Sassoon DocksThe Sassoon Docks is the biggest dock in Mumbai and one of the few docks in the city open to the public. It is situated just off Cuffe Parade in South Mumbai, and is today one of largest fish markets in the city...
, the first wet dock built in western India. With two of his brothers he later became prominent in England and the family great friends of the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII.
Of those who settled in England, Sir Edward Albert Sassoon (1856 - 1912), the son of Albert, married Aline Caroline de Rothschild
Aline Caroline de Rothschild
Aline Caroline de Rothschild, Lady Sassoon was a French socialite and daughter of Cécile Anspach and Baron Gustave de Rothschild of the prominent Rothschild family. She died aged 43 or 44 from undisclosed causes....
, and was a Conservative member of Parliament from 1899 until his death. The seat was then inherited by his son Sir Philip Sassoon
Philip Sassoon
Sir Philip Albert Gustave David Sassoon, 3rd Baronet, GBE, CMG , was a British politician, art collector and social host, entertaining many celebrity guests at his homes, Port Lympne, Kent, and Trent Park, Hertfordshire, England.-Family:Sassoon was a member of the prominent Sassoon family and...
(1888 - 1939) from 1912 until his death. Sir Philip served in World War I as military secretary to Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig
Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig
Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, KT, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCIE, ADC, was a British senior officer during World War I. He commanded the British Expeditionary Force from 1915 to the end of the War...
and, during the 1920s and 1930s, as Britain's undersecretary of state for air. The twentieth-century English poet, one of the best known World War I poets, 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...
(1886 - 1967) was David's great-grandson. Another descendant of Sassoon David Sassoon
Sassoon David Sassoon
Sassoon David Sassoon , a British Indian merchant, was born at Bombay , a member of a family settled there since the beginning of the 16th century, and previously in Spain...
is the British banker and government minister Lord James Sassoon. In the 19th century, one daughter of the family, Rachel Sassoon Beer
Rachel Beer
Rachel Beer was an Indian-born British newspaper editor. She was editor-in-chief of The Observer and The Sunday Times.-Biography:...
bought a number of newspapers in England, including The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
(1893–1904) and The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, which she also edited.
The branch that carried on the ancestral tradition has been represented by Rabbi Solomon David Sassoon (1915 - 1985), who moved from Letchworth
Letchworth
Letchworth Garden City, commonly known as Letchworth, is a town and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England. The town's name is taken from one of the three villages it surrounded - all of which featured in the Domesday Book. The land used was first purchased by Quakers who had intended to farm the...
to 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 then to Jerusalem in 1970. He was the son of the David Sassoon who collected Jewish books and manuscripts and who catalogued them in Ohel David, in two volumes. This David was the son of Flora Abraham, who had moved from India to England in 1901 and established a famous salon in her London home. Solomon Sassoon had one son, Isaac S.D. Sassoon
Isaac S.D. Sassoon
Isaac S.D. Sassoon is an observant Sephardic rabbi and educator. Hakham Sassoon was born into the Sassoon family of London. His initial education was under the tutelage of his father, the renowned scholar Rabbi Solomon David Sassoon, Hakham Yosef Doury, and others. Later studies were at the...
, who is also a rabbi.
Family tree
External links
- Elkebir Family Tree, showing the ancestry of the Sassoon family back to the 18th century.