"On Zionism, its aim and objects", an Address by Nathaniel Levi, 1906

Nathaniel Levi (20 January 1830–1908) was a Jewish-Australian politician and businessman.

Biography

Levi was born in Liverpool, England on 20 January 1830.[4] He left England in December 1852,[4] and arrived at Hobson's Bay on 27 April 1854 on the Matilda Wattenbach.[4][1] He rented property on Collins and Queens Streets and worked as an auctioneer until 1858[4] when he joined a firm of "wine, spirit, and general merchants" called John Levy and Sons.[4]

In 1858, Levi ran for Parliament to represent the constituency of Maryborough but lost by 14 votes.[4] When Richard Davies Ireland was appointed Attorney-General, Levi contested the election for his vacant seat.[4] He became the first Jewish member of the Victorian Parliament when he was first elected in 1860.[4][5][6]

He represented the electorates of Maryborough for 5 years[4] before he became the representative for East Melbourne.[7] He later represented the electorate of North Yarra.[1]

In 1865, Levi opened a distillery in Footscray and started cultivating sugar and spirits from beetroot.[4][8]

Levi was prominent in the Jewish community, and was the president of the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation[4] in 1880–82 and 1904–05,[1] and president of the Melbourne Hebrew School.[4]

Personal life

In 1855, Levy married John Levy's daughter, Sarah.[9][10] She died in 1864.[4][11]

Levi was the forebear of prominent rabbi, John Levi,[6] one of the founders of Melbourne's King David School.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Fredman, L. E. (1974). "Levi, Nathaniel (1830–1908)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b "ABOUT PEOPLE". The Age. No. 16693. Victoria, Australia. 12 September 1908. p. 13. Retrieved 13 April 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Family Notices". The Age. No. 349. Victoria, Australia. 30 November 1855. p. 4. Retrieved 16 April 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Leavitt, T. W. H., ed. (1887). Australian Representative Men. Melbourne, Australia: Wells and Leavitt. pp. 61–65.
  5. ^ The Australian People: An Encyclopedia of the Nation, Its People and Their Origins (2001 Hardback ed.). Cambridge University Press. 2001. p. 530. ISBN 0521807891.
  6. ^ a b Webb, Carolyn (2 December 2006). "Nation's first Jews an 'obsession' for rabbi". The Age. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Mr. Nathaniel Levi". Essendon and Flemington Chronicle. 31 July 1891. p. 2. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
  8. ^ "Mr. Nathaniel Levi". Williamstown Chronicle. Victoria. 25 July 1891. p. 2. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
  9. ^ "Historical Information (Nathaniel Levi plaque)". St Kilda Historical Society's Victorian Collections. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
  10. ^ "Married (Nathaniel Levi/Sarah Levy)". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria. 30 November 1855. p. 4.
  11. ^ "Death (Levi)". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria. 23 March 1864. Retrieved 20 February 2025.

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Allikas: Https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Levi
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