Matching family tree profiles for Lewis Harris ( Samuel Wormser)
view all 21
Immediate Family
-
-
son -
daughter
-
son
-
son
-
wife
-
son
-
son
-
-
son
-
son
-
mother
About Lewis Harris ( Samuel Wormser)
Born as Samuel Wormser, the oldest child of Isaac Samuel Wormser. At age 21, he went to Dublin, Ireland (founded in the 9th century, under English rule since the 12th century).
When he arrived in Dublin, he lodged with a Jewish watch and clockmaker, Charles Harris, to whom he served an apprenticeship. Before long, he became a well-known merchant, bill-broker, and jeweler.
Upon the birth of his first child in 1837, he changed his name to Lewis Harris.
President of Mary's Abbey Synagogue in 1847-48, 1851-52, and 1860-63.
A most successful businessman, he carried on business as a bill-broker and financier at 19 Suffolk Street, Dublin and was renowned for his commercial integrity and as a generous philanthropist. He became a British subject in 1852 by Royal Warrant.
In 1874, Lewis became a candidate for alderman, and his opponents mounted a campaign against him because he was a Jew. Addressing the citizens of Dublin, Harris wrote a stinging answer to the bigots, ending with the hope that his fellow townsmen would exhibit their tolerance and independence of though. He was elected by a large majority as alderman for the South Dock Ward of the Dublin Corporation, the first Jew in Ireland's public life.
In 1876, as deputy to the ruling Lord Mayor of the city, Lewis Harris often presided in the Lord Mayor's Court, as was slated to fill that high office later in that year. However, he died three months before he was to have been sworn in as Lord Mayor. He would have been the first Jew in that post, preceding Robert Briscoe by 80 years.
view all 13
Lewis Harris ( Samuel Wormser)'s Timeline
| 1812 |
April 5, 1812
|
Aldingen, Stuttgart, Baden-Würtemberg, Deutschland (Germany)
|
|
| 1837 |
November 10, 1837
|
Dublin, Ireland
|
|
| 1838 |
November 25, 1838
|
Dublin, Ireland
|
|
| 1841 |
February 9, 1841
|
Dublin, Ireland
|
|
| 1842 |
1842
|
Dublin, Ireland
|
|
| 1858 |
September 10, 1858
|
Dublin, Ireland
|
|
| 1859 |
September 13, 1859
|
Dublin, Ireland
|
|
| 1861 |
May 9, 1861
|
Dublin, Ireland
|