Mortimer Epstein

“ Löwy intended, on the completion of his studies, to migrate to Italy, where Jews enjoyed much liberty. But in 1838, with his two friends, Steinschneider and Benisch, he founded 'Die Einheit,' a society of some two hundred students of the Vienna University, most of them Jews, who were endeavouring to promote the welfare of the Jews, one of their aims being to establish colonies in Palestine. ”

“ In 1840 Löwy visited England to seek support for the scheme, and there he settled for life. A section of the Jewish community in London was at the time seeking to reform both ritual and practice. The reformers seceded from the main body of their co-religionists, opening on 27 Jan. 1842 the West London Synagogue of British Jews, in Burton Street. Löwy became one of the first two ministers ”

“ To Jewish charities he devoted the greater part of his wealth and leisure. He was active in organising the Board of Guardians of the Jewish Poor (founded in 1859) , and was chairman of a Jewish workhouse started in 1871, and reorganised in 1897 as the Home for Aged Jews, with himself as president; he also helped to form the Jews' Deaf and Dumb Home in 1865. The situation of the Jews in eastern Europe engaged his constant attention. ”

“ In whole or part he defrayed the expenses of many important publications, including Zunz's two books, 'Zur Geschichte und Literatur' (Berlin, 1850) and 'Literaturgeschichte der Synagogalen Poesie' (Berlin, 1855) , Berhner's 'Juden in Rom' (Frankfort, 1893) , and the English translation of Graetz's 'History of the Jews' (London and Philadelphia, 1891) . In 1887 he was president of the Anglo-Jewish Historical Exhibition at the Albert Hall, which led to the establishment of the Jewish Historical Society of England. He was president of the society in 1900. ”

“ Simon, who was an early advocate of reform in Jewish ritual and practices in England, enlisted Marks's aid in the movement, and in 1841 Marks was chosen senior minister of the newly-established reformed West London congregation of British Jews, retaining the post until the end of 1895, first at the synagogue in Burton Street, which was opened on 27 January 1842, then at Margaret Street, whither the congregation removed in 1849, and lastly at the existing building in Upper Berkeley Street which was opened in 1870 (J. Picciotto, Sketches of Anglo-Jewish History, 1875, pp. 374 seq.) ”

“ The father, Solomon de Worms, was son of Benedict de Worms of Frankfort-on-the-Maine, by his wife Jeanette, eldest daughter of Meyer Amschel Rothschild of the same city, and sister of Nathan Meyer Rothschild [q. v.] , the first of the Rothschild family to settle in England. Solomon de Worms and his two brothers came to England in 1815 and formed a banking and colonial business in London. Becoming interested in coffee-planting in Ceylon, they did much to further the economic development of the island (Sir J. Emerson Tennent, Ceylon, 5th edit. ii. p. 250) . ”

“ The business was eventually moved to New Bond Street (No. 92) , and there before 1858 Isaac Falcke accumulated a comfortable fortune. Thenceforth he chiefly devoted himself to the study of art and to the collection of art treasures mainly for his own gratification. He soon formed a collection of majolica and lustre ware, which owing to some unfortunate investment he sold to a kinsman, Frederick Davis, a Bond Street dealer, who in his turn sold it to Sir Richard Wallace; it now forms part of the Wallace collection. ”

“ GIBBINS, HENRY DE BELTGENS (1865–1907) , writer on economic history, born at Port Elizabeth, Cape Colony, on 23 May 1865, was eldest son of Joseph Henry Gibbins of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, by his wife Eleanor, daughter of the Hon. J. de Beltgens of Stanford, Dominica. Educated at Bradford grammar school, he won a scholarship at Wadham College, Oxford, in 1883, and obtained a second class in classical moderations in 1885, and a second class also in the final classical schools in 1887. ”

“ In 1836 she married Louis Goodman, a City merchant, who died in 1870. Among her seven children were Edward John Goodman, at one time sub-editor of the 'Daily Telegraph,' and Walter Goodman, a portrait painter, who painted a good portrait of his mother. ”

“ De Worms, who was elected a fellow of the Royal Society, published: 1. 'The Earth and its Mechanism,' 1862. 2. 'The Austro-Hungarian Empire,' 1870; 2nd edit. 1872. 3. 'England's Policy in the East,' 1877. He was twice married: (1) in 1864 to Fanny, eldest daughter of Baron von Todesco, of Vienna, by whom he had three daughters, and whom he divorced in 1886; and (2) in 1887 to Sarah, then Mrs. Barnett, only daughter of Sir Benjamin Samuel Phillips. He left no heir. ”

“ He subsequently commanded the Star, sloop, on the south-east coast of America, and from her was in August 1860 moved into the flagship as executive officer. On 11 March 1857 he was promoted to captain. ”

“ It comprises about 500 pieces, and includes one of the few original copies of the famous Barberini or Portland vase and a basalt bust of Mercury by John Flaxman (see Guide to the English Pottery and Porcelain, British Museum, 1910, pp. 74-76) . ”