Albert Sassoon: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}

| parents            = [[David Sassoon (treasurer)|David Sassoon]] <br/> Hannah Joseph

Under Albert Sassoon's leadership "David Sassoon & Sons" established in 1874 in Bombay a new subsidiary, the "Sassoon Spinning and Weaving Company", which opened several [[cotton mill]]s there.<ref>Vijay K. Seth: "Ascent and Decline of native and colonial Trading - Tale of Four Indian Cities", SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd., New Delhi 2019, p. 50, {{ISBN|978-93-532-8085-7}}</ref> In 1875 the company built the [[Sassoon Docks]], the first [[wet dock]]s in Bombay.<ref>Joan G. Roland: "The Jewish Communities of India - Identity in Colonial Era", Transaction Publishers, London/ New York 1998, p. 18, {{ISBN|978-0-7658-0439-6}}</ref> The company was also instrumental in the founding of the [[Imperial Bank of Persia]] in 1889.<ref>Between Foreigner and Shi'is, Daniel Tsadik, p. 112, 2007, Stanford University Press,</ref>

After a visit to [[England]] in 1873, Albert Sassoon settled there permanently in 1875 to direct "David Sassoon & Sons" from [[London]]. The management of the company's affairs in Bombay was left to his younger brother [[Solomon David Sassoon (1841–1894)|Solomon David Sassoon]] (1841–1894).<ref name="Joan G. Roland 1998, p.19">Joan G. Roland: "The Jewish Communities of India - Identity in Colonial Era", Transaction Publishers, London/ New York 1998, p. 19, {{ISBN|978-0-7658-0439-6}}</ref>

Albert Sassoon died in [[Brighton]] in 1896, aged 78, and was buried in the [[Sassoon Mausoleum]], which he had built in [[Brighton]] (England). In 1933 his body was removed and reburied in the [[Liberal Jewish Cemetery, Willesden]] in London.<ref>Sharman Kadish, ''Jewish Heritage in England: an Architectural Guide'' (English Heritage, 2006, pp. 77-78)</ref><ref>Peter Stansky: "Sassoon: the worlds of Philip and Sybil", Yale University Press, 2003, p. 16</ref> A [[mausoleum]] was also built for him in the [[Jewish Cemetery, Chinchpokli]].<ref name=BbM>Prashant Kidambi, Manjiri Kamat, Rachel Dwyer, eds. ''Bombay Before Mumbai: Essays in Honour of Jim Masselos'' (Oxford University Press, 15 August 2019),  [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=SPerDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT11 p. 11]</ref>

The [[Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum]], formerly The Victoria and Albert Museum was built with the patronage of many wealthy Indian businessmen and philanthropists including Albert Sassoon, Sir [[Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy]] and [[Jaganath Shunkerseth]].

In 1866 Sassoon was made a Companion of the [[Order of the Star of India]] (CSI), and in 1872 a Knight Companion of the [[Order of the Bath]] (KCB).<ref name="EB1911"/> Around the same time he received "Order of Lion and Sun" from Shah of Persia for "work in Persia and his services in the development of Persian commerce".<ref>Between Foreigner and Shi'is, Daniel Tsadik, page 112, 2007, Stanford University Press.</ref> During his visit to England in 1873 he received the freedom of the city of [[London]].<ref name="EB1911"/> After Albert Sassoon had settled in England he was created [[Baronet]] Sassoon in 1890.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=26019|date=31 January 1890|page=545}}</ref>

Albert Sassoon's father, [[David Sassoon (treasurer)|David Sassoon]] (1792–1864), was a leading [[Baghdad]] merchant and a treasurer under [[Ahmet Pasha (Governor of Baghdad)|Ahmet Pasha]], the Governor of Baghdad. However, he fled after he was implicated in a corruption scandal, moving from Baghdad to [[Bushire]], in [[Iran]], and finally settled in [[Bombay]] (now Mumbai) in 1832, where he founded a large mercantile business, called "David Sassoon & Sons".<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Sassoon, Sir Albert Abdullah David|volume=24|page=227}}</ref>

[[Category:19th-century Indian philanthropists]]