The Goldschmidt Family

Benjamin and Abraham were the “First members of the Stock Exchange whocompeted with the bankers for the favours of the Chancellor, and divertedfrom their purses those profits which were scarcely a legitimate portionof banking business. The combination of that interest being thus broken,the Bargains for public loans became more open, there was noconfederation to limit and lower the prices; and the Ministry and countryreaped the benefit in imprOved terms” (Francis 1885 quoted from Hyamson1953, p. 4). Benjamin and his brother Abraham “carried on a separatebusiness in partnership and, after 1792, grew rich through their dealingswith the British Government. Benjamin had a Fine country house and parkof two hundred acres at Roehampton, near Kew so magnificent that it wascompared to Windsor Castle. As Levy Alexander writes in his amusing butsomewhat scandalous biography: “ Everything is here on a scale ofmagnificence and Beauty equal to any NobLeman’s country seat. Drawing,Music and Dancing Rooms, furnished with the highest Taste and latestfashions, with a profusion of ornamental as well as useful articles. Icehouses, hot houses, the whole forming an accommodation fit for thereception of a Prince. In this house he has been visited by Mr. Dundasand also the Royal family, unexpected, when he entertained them in amanner highly to their satisfaction.” He was the founder of the NavalAsylum, Greenwich, and, in 1797, of the Jews’ Hospital, Mile End. Afavorite of both Pitt and the Duke of Kent, he did not allow his worldlysuccess to damp his communal activities. He liberally supported theSynagogue and the Chief Rabbi and was a generous patron of poor DavidLevi. In 1808, in a fit of despondency, Benjamin Goldsmid committedsuicide” (Adler 1930, pp. 147-48). “Lord Nelson was among their Closestfriends. He spent his last night in England in Benjamin’s house atRoehampton” (Hyamson 1953, p. 5). “The brothers were not only pillars ofthe City but also pillars of the Synagogue. In his home at RoehamptonBenjamin had not only a private synagogue, but in its grounds he reserveda plot for the Rabbi of the Great Synagogue – the equivalent of the ChiefRabbi of toDay – on which wheat from which his matzos were made wasgrown” (Hyamson 1953, p. 5). Benjamin and Abraham’s “familiarity with thesons of George III did much to break down social prejudice against Jewsin England and to pave the way for emancipation. They were considered byLord Nelson among his Closest friends. ... This activity Marked thedisplacement of the Sephardi element in London from their formerhegemony” (Encyclopedia Judaica).

After his brother Benjamin’s death, “Abraham continued the business and,two years later, joined with Sir Francis Baring in the issue of anEnglish Government loan for £1,400,000. But Sir Francis died suddenly,which started a panic in the City; the stock fell and Abraham alsocommitted suicide” (Adler 1930, p. 148). “The relations between Abrahamand the royal Duke of Sussex were those of genuine friendship. It wasunder Abraham’s escort that the Royal princes attended service at theGreat Synagogue one FriDay evening in 1809. He once actually entertainedat luncheon, informally, King George III and his Queen, who being in theneighbourhood had visited Abraham’s country house at Morden almostunannounced. Lord Nelson was among their Closest friends. ... After theGreat admiral’s death Abraham befriended Lady HaMilton, when beset byfinancial anxieties, and since her home, Merton Place, had to be sold,another brother Asher bought it