Lewis Wormser Harris
Lewis Wormser Harris (1812-1876) was a bill-broker, financier, member of Dublin Corporation (elected Lord Mayor) and prominent member of the Dublin Hebrew Congregation.
Biography
He was born Samuel Wormser on the April 5th 1812, to Isaac Samuel Wormser and Sheinle Ephraim, in Aldingen (near Stuttgart) Germany. He moved to Ireland in 1821 living in the residence of a Charles Harris who was a watch maker, and soon after he adopted the surname Harris.
He was elected Alderman of Dublin Corporation representing the South Dock Ward in 1874, the first member of Dublin's Jewish community to hold such a position, and in 1876 he was chosen as Lord Mayor. However, he died on 1 August 1876 in Bray, just before he was due to take up office of Lord Mayor of Dublin.[1]
On three occasions he was President of the Dublin Hebrew Congregation 1847-48, 1851–52 and 1860-63. In 1853 he was involved in the foundation of the synagogue in Stafford Street.[2]
He operated very successfully as a financier with offices in Suffolk Street.
Family
Lewis Harris was married twice, first to Caroline Ellen Picard (1817-1855) she was born Hendel b. Raphael Picard in Strasbourg, France, they were married in 1836 with whom he had four children Alfred, Hannah (Annie), Morris (Moshe) and Raphael.[3]
He married Juliette Joseph (1821-1908) in 1857 with whom he had five children Herbert, Ernest, Lionel Simon, Arthur and Walter, Juliette died in Brighton in 1908 and was brought back to be buried in the cemetery at Ballybough in Dublin, one of the last people to be buried there.
His son Alfred Wormser Harris was also elected an Alderman for Dublin Corporation and also like his father was a president of the Dublin Hebrew Congregation from 1867 to 1873.[4] In 1880 Alfred stood for election in Kildare as a Liberal.
References
- ↑ Jews in Twentieth-century Ireland By Dermot Keogh
- ↑ The genealogical tree of Lewis Wormser Harris
- ↑ The genealogy of Samuel Wormser can be found at www.kaminsky.nl
- ↑ AThe genealogical tree of Alfred Wormser Harris
