Moss Judah Solomon


Moss Judah Solomon, was a businessman in the British colony and, later, State of South Australia. He was a prominent member of Adelaide's Hebrew congregation.

History

Solomon was born in Brisbane, the eldest son of Judah Moss Solomon, Government Auctioneer of the colony of Queensland, later mayor of Adelaide and a member of both houses of parliament of South Australia. In 1846 the family sailed to South Australia in the brig Dorset, owned by his uncle Emanuel Solomon, and settled in a house on Stephens Place, later the site of J. L. Young's school.
In February 1854 J. M. Solomon took his family to England aboard the steamer Australia, to act as buyer for his brothers Vaiben and Emanuel. The Australia, which was carrying a valuable cargo of gold bullion, ran aground on a reef off Cape Town, so the passengers took to the boats, and were picked up by the steamer Royal Shepherdess, which was following, also heavily laden with bullion. The Australia turned out to have suffered no serious damage, so was able to resume her voyage and arrived in London with no further mishap. While in England, Solomon and his brother Benjamin Solomon attended London College.
In 1858 J. M. Solomon returned to Adelaide, and resumed his business activities, enrolling the boys at St Peter's College. At age 17 Solomon joined his father's auction house, and updated the system of departmental bookkeeping then being used. He married and had five children, living at "Palmerston Villa" on Barton Terrace east.
In 1873 he left Adelaide and his family for the Northern Territory, which was enjoying a surge of business activity, led by the discovery of gold. He established an auctioneering business in Darwin.
Solomon was elected to the first district council. He established trade connections with Batavia and Surabaya, and returned to Adelaide on a P. & O. ship, narrowly avoiding being carried on the SS Gothenburg
, which was tragically wrecked in 24 February 1875.
Back in Adelaide, Solomon returned to auctioneering, trading chiefly in sugar and molasses from Mauritius, the subject of see-sawing tariffs between the colonies of Queensland and New South Wales, which intensified after Federation.
He married a second time in 1895, to Fanny Bennett.
He was partner in firm of Solomon Cousins of King William Street and Kapunda with his "uncle" Joseph Samuel Solomon.
He died at his home, "Palmerston", at 226 Wellington Square, North Adelaide.

Other interests

Solomon was involved in the Literary Societies movement, then popular with young men aspiring for political favours, and its associated Model Parliament. mention Dr Jefferis?
He was active in amateur theatre, a member of the Garrick amateur theatrical company.
He was a zealous worker for the Hebrew congregation; appointed secretary, later president, a post he held for 33 years all told, up to the year of his death.
He succeeded Sir Charles Goode as president of the North Adelaide Institute, and was a devotee of the game of chess, president of Bishop's Chess Club, and vice-president of the Adelaide Chess Club.

Family

Mr. Solomon was married twice. His second wife died in June 1927.
He had 12 children. Four sons served in the Great War.
Moss Judah Solomon was born in Moreton Bay, Queensland, had residence "Palmerston" 226 Wellington Square North Adelaide. He married cousin Anna Benjamin on 13 September 1865; they had 12 children, lived at "Palmerston" and "Palmerston Villa" on Barton Terrace east. He married a second time, to Fanny Bennett in 1895. He was partner in firm of Solomon Cousins of King William Street and Kapunda with his "uncle" Joseph Samuel Solomon. His children included:
  • Rachel Adelaide "Rae" Solomon married Edgar L. Lawrence on 28 October 1891. Edgar was Perth manager for W.D. & H.O. Wills and son of L. P. Lawrence.
  • Susan Selina "Susie" Solomon graduated BSc in 1890
  • J Moss Solomon BA LLB married Elizabeth Sarah "Beth" or "Lizzie" Barnard on 24 June 1896. He was a trooper with the 2nd NSW Mounted Rifles, served in the Boer War, was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal. He was Hon. sec. of Lady Kintore Cottages, and solicitor of King William Street, Adelaide from 1893 to 1901.
  • Walter Samuel Solomon married Alice Forshaw ; fought as Trooper in Boer War, convert from Judaism to Salvation Army; served as chaplain in WWII at age 65. awarded Australian Efficiency Decoration in 1947.