Lionel Samson
Lionel Samson (1799-15 March 1878) was an early Swan River Colony settler and businessman whose firm, Lionel Samson & Son, is the second oldest continuing family business in Australia.
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It is likely his father was Michael Samson, "a member of one of the old established and wealthy families of English Jewry", according to the Australian Dictionary of Biography.[1] After studying at Oxford University and being a member of the London Stock Exchange he emigrated to Western Australia.
Samson arrived at Fremantle in 1829 on the Calista and soon set up business as a wine and spirit merchant, importer and auctioneer. He also engaged in whaling. He purchased Fremantle town lots 27 and 28 in the first state land sale.[2] He was postmaster-general from 1830 to 1832. In 1835 he obtained the state's first liquor license.[2] In 1842 he returned to Britain and married Frances Levi. They had six children: three sons and three daughters. Samson was a member of the Fremantle Town Trust and a nominee in the Western Australian Legislative Council in 1849–56 and 1859–68.
Lionel Samson & Son's interests include wholesale liquor distribution, vineyards and wine making, woven bulk bags for industrial use and industrial packaging. It also owns Sadleirs Transport, a national transport and freight forwarding company. Lionel Samson Building, in Cliff Street, Fremantle, is on the Heritage Council of Western Australia’s Places Database.[3]
Two of Samson's sons became mayor of Fremantle: William Frederick Samson (1892–1893) and Michael Samson (1905–1907). In addition, his grandson Sir Frederick Samson was mayor of Fremantle from 1951 to 1972.
References
- Mossenson, David. "Samson, Lionel (1799–1878)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
- "Index". Lionel Samson & Son. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
- "Place No 00856; Lionel Samson Building". Heritage Council of Western Australia. 3 November 2008. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2009.