Saul Samuel
Encyclopedia
Sir Saul Samuel CMG
, KCMG, CB
(2 November 1820 – 29 August 1900) was an Australia
n colonial merchant, member of parliament, pastoralist, and prominent Jew. Samuel achieved many breakthroughs for Jews in the colonial community of New South Wales
including the first Jew to become a magistrate, the first Jew elected to parliaments, the first Jew to become a minister of the Crown.
, England
on 2 November 1820, the posthumous son of Sampson Samuel and his wife Lydia, née Lyons. Samuel arrived in Australia on 25 August 1832 aboard The Brothers with his mother to meet with Samuel's brother, Lewis, and their uncle, Samuel Lyons
, was had arrived in colonial New South Wales a few years earlier. Educated at schools run by W. T Cape
, Samuel was initially employed at his uncles' accounting house, before he and his brother formed their own mercantile firm.
After purchasing 190000 acres (76,890.3 ha) of land at Bathurst
, he abandonded pastoral interests following the 1851 gold rush
and business interests became his main focus.
He married Henrietta Matilda Goldsmith-Levien on 16 December 1857 and had 2 daughters and 2 sons. He married Sarah Louisa Isaacs on 31 October 1877 and had 1 son.
between 1854 and 1856. Elected to the first responsible government, Samuel became a member of the Legislative Assembly representing the Counties of Roxburgh and Wellington from 1854 until 1856. Re-elected to the Assembly in June 1859 and then again in November 1859, Samuel served as member for Orange
until 1860. Samuel became member for Wellington in 1862, serving until 1869, and then again as member for Orange, serving between 1869 until 1872, before briefly serving as member for East Sydney
during 1872. In 1872, Samuel was appointed a Life Member of Legislative Council, where he sat until he retirement from parliamentary life in 1880.
three times during his parliamentary career including in the Forster ministry
between 1859 and 1860, the fourth Cowper ministry
between 1865 and 1866, and the second Robertson ministry
between 1868 and 1870. Samuel resigned as Treasurer in the Cowper ministry after his budget proposals for trade licences and increased duties on tea and sugar had been defeated. In 1870, at the Intercolonial Conference in Melbourne, Samuel proposed intercolonial free trade to settle the border customs dispute. He hoped to abolish ad valorem duties but his plans for a tax on incomes of over £200 were bitterly contested and led to the downfall of the government in December 1870.
Between 1872 and 1880, Samuel served as Postmaster General on three occasions under Premier, Henry Parkes
, including the first
(1872–1875), second
(1877), and third (1878–1883) ministries. During this period, Samuel established the General Post Office
and negotiated a subsidized mail service from England to Australia via USA.
He was active in Jewish affairs including a member of the Board of Management of York Street Synagogue and on 26 January 1875 he laid the foundation stone for the Great Synagogue
in Elizabeth Street, Sydney, and was later its president.
Samuel was appointed a Companion in the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1874, and a Knight Commander in 1882. He became a Companion in the Order of the Bath in 1886 and was created baronet in 1886.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, KCMG, CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(2 November 1820 – 29 August 1900) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n colonial merchant, member of parliament, pastoralist, and prominent Jew. Samuel achieved many breakthroughs for Jews in the colonial community of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
including the first Jew to become a magistrate, the first Jew elected to parliaments, the first Jew to become a minister of the Crown.
Early years and background
Samuel 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...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on 2 November 1820, the posthumous son of Sampson Samuel and his wife Lydia, née Lyons. Samuel arrived in Australia on 25 August 1832 aboard The Brothers with his mother to meet with Samuel's brother, Lewis, and their uncle, Samuel Lyons
Samuel Lyons
Samuel Lyons 1791 - 1851 was a pardoned convict from London who rose to prominence in the Australian colony of New South Wales as a landowner and businessman. A tailor by trade, Lyons was sentenced to transportation for life in 1814. He made two attempts to escape from the convict life before...
, was had arrived in colonial New South Wales a few years earlier. Educated at schools run by W. T Cape
William Timothy Cape
William Timothy Cape was an early school master in Sydney, Australia; several of the Premiers of New South Wales attended his school....
, Samuel was initially employed at his uncles' accounting house, before he and his brother formed their own mercantile firm.
After purchasing 190000 acres (76,890.3 ha) of land at Bathurst
Bathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
, he abandonded pastoral interests following the 1851 gold rush
Australian gold rushes
The Australian gold rush started in 1851 when prospector Edward Hammond Hargraves claimed the discovery of payable gold near Bathurst, New South Wales, at a site Edward Hargraves called Ophir.Eight months later, gold was found in Victoria...
and business interests became his main focus.
He married Henrietta Matilda Goldsmith-Levien on 16 December 1857 and had 2 daughters and 2 sons. He married Sarah Louisa Isaacs on 31 October 1877 and had 1 son.
Politicial career
In 1854, Samuel became an elective Member of the first Legislative Council of New South Wales, representing the Counties of Roxburgh and WellingtonNineteen Counties
The Nineteen Counties were the limits of location in the colony of New South Wales defined by the Governor of New South Wales Sir Ralph Darling in 1826 in accordance with a government order from Lord Bathurst, the secretary of State. Counties had been used since the first year of settlement, with...
between 1854 and 1856. Elected to the first responsible government, Samuel became a member of the Legislative Assembly representing the Counties of Roxburgh and Wellington from 1854 until 1856. Re-elected to the Assembly in June 1859 and then again in November 1859, Samuel served as member for Orange
Electoral district of Orange
Orange is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Andrew Gee of the National Party of Australia....
until 1860. Samuel became member for Wellington in 1862, serving until 1869, and then again as member for Orange, serving between 1869 until 1872, before briefly serving as member for East Sydney
Electoral district of East Sydney
East Sydney was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian State of New South Wales created in 1859 from part of the electoral district of Sydney, covering the eastern part of the current Sydney central business district, Woolloomooloo, Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay and...
during 1872. In 1872, Samuel was appointed a Life Member of Legislative Council, where he sat until he retirement from parliamentary life in 1880.
Treasurer and Postmaster General
Samuel served as Colonial TreasurerTreasurer of New South Wales
The Treasurer of New South Wales, known from 1856–1959 as the Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales, is the minister in the Government of New South Wales responsible for government expenditure and revenue raising and is the head of the New South Wales Treasury. The Treasurer plays a key role in...
three times during his parliamentary career including in the Forster ministry
Forster ministry
The Forster ministry was the fifth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by the Premier, the Honourable William Forster. Forster was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in March 1856. He was asked to form Government after the second...
between 1859 and 1860, the fourth Cowper ministry
Cowper ministry (1865–1866)
The Cowper ministry or Fourth Cowper ministry was the ninth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and fourth occasion of being led by the Premier, the Honourable Charles Cowper....
between 1865 and 1866, and the second Robertson ministry
Robertson ministry (1868–1870)
The Robertson ministry or Second Robertson ministry was the eleventh ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by the Premier, the Honourable John Robertson. It was the second of five occasions that Robertson was Premier. Robertson was elected in the first free elections for the New...
between 1868 and 1870. Samuel resigned as Treasurer in the Cowper ministry after his budget proposals for trade licences and increased duties on tea and sugar had been defeated. In 1870, at the Intercolonial Conference in Melbourne, Samuel proposed intercolonial free trade to settle the border customs dispute. He hoped to abolish ad valorem duties but his plans for a tax on incomes of over £200 were bitterly contested and led to the downfall of the government in December 1870.
Between 1872 and 1880, Samuel served as Postmaster General on three occasions under Premier, Henry Parkes
Henry Parkes
Sir Henry Parkes, GCMG was an Australian statesman, the "Father of Federation." As the earliest advocate of a Federal Council of the colonies of Australia, a precursor to the Federation of Australia, he was the most prominent of the Australian Founding Fathers.Parkes was described during his...
, including the first
Parkes ministry (1872–1875)
The Parkes ministry or First Parkes ministry was the fourteenth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and the first of five occasions of being led by the Premier, the Honourable Henry Parkes....
(1872–1875), second
Parkes ministry (1877)
The Parkes ministry or Second Parkes ministry was the sixteenth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by the Premier, the Honourable Henry Parkes...
(1877), and third (1878–1883) ministries. During this period, Samuel established the General Post Office
General Post Office
General Post Office is the name of the British postal system from 1660 until 1969.General Post Office may also refer to:* General Post Office, Perth* General Post Office, Sydney* General Post Office, Melbourne* General Post Office, Brisbane...
and negotiated a subsidized mail service from England to Australia via USA.
Career after politics
After politics, Samuel pursued his business interests including Chairman of Australian Mutual Provident Society and of Pacific Fire and Marine Insurance Company. Between 1880 and 1897, Samuel was the sixth Agent-General for New South Wales in London and was a director of Mercantile Bank of Sydney. An energetic, shrewd and efficient representative, he helped negotiate government loans and by 1885 claimed that he had raised £30 million. He fostered assisted immigration, negotiated with the Peninsular and Oriental and the Orient shipping companies for weekly mail services to the colony and in 1885 about the New South Wales contingent to the Sudan. He was a commissioner for New South Wales at the 1883 Amsterdam Exhibition and represented the colony at the 1887 Colonial Conference in London. In 1891 he also represented Queensland at the Postal Convention in Vienna.He was active in Jewish affairs including a member of the Board of Management of York Street Synagogue and on 26 January 1875 he laid the foundation stone for the Great Synagogue
Great Synagogue (Sydney)
The Great Synagogue is a large synagogue in Sydney, Australia. It is located in Elizabeth Street opposite Hyde Park and extends back to Castlereagh Street.-Description and history:...
in Elizabeth Street, Sydney, and was later its president.
Samuel was appointed a Companion in the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1874, and a Knight Commander in 1882. He became a Companion in the Order of the Bath in 1886 and was created baronet in 1886.