Metadata : Sampson Gideon Collection
Collection
- Country:
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Holding institution:
- The University of Leeds Cultural Collections & Galleries
- Holding institution (official language):
- The University of Leeds Cultural Collections & Galleries
- Postal address:
- The Brotherton Library, Woodhouse Ln, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9JT
- Phone number:
- 0113 343 5518
- Country:
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Holding institution:
- The University of Leeds Cultural Collections & Galleries
- Holding institution (official language):
- The University of Leeds Cultural Collections & Galleries
- Postal address:
- The Brotherton Library, Woodhouse Ln, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9JT
- Phone number:
- 0113 343 5518
- Reference number:
- MS 305
- Title:
- Sampson Gideon Collection
- Title (official language):
- Sampson Gideon Collection
- Creator/accumulator:
- Sampson Gideon
- Date(s):
- 1761/1762
- Language:
- English
- Extent:
- 1 file
- Type of material:
- Textual material
- Physical condition:
- good
- Scope and content:
- This collection relates to British banker and philanthropist Sampson Gideon's financial investments in the final year of his life (1761-1762). The documents detail Gideon's financial success through investments in trade and career working in the British stock exchange. The collection is of particular interest due to Gideon's Jewish heritage and involvement in Jewish communities throughout his life.
- Administrative/biographical history:
-
Sampson Gideon (1699-1762) was born in London to a family of Sephardi Jewish heritage. His father was a prominent trader in the West Indies, active in the production of sugar cane, making an extensive fortune using enslaved Africans and indentured European servants on plantations there.
Gideon began his career in London by speculating in coffeehouses on lottery tickets, government securities and the South Sea Company. By the 1730s he was dealing in British, Dutch and French securities as well as marine insurance. During the War of Austrian Succession, he tackled anti-Semitic ideologies in London's financial circles by raising money in the Jewish community to help finance the British Army's efforts. Following this, he was offered the position of key advisor to the Bank of England on matters of high finance. The British government worked closely with Gideon to integrate Jewish Sephardic communities into the Swedish East India Company and the South Sea Company.
Beyond financial matters, Gideon aspired to found a dynasty with vast landed estate interests in England. However, due to vague laws surrounding Jews owning land and property in England, this task proved to be difficult. These challenges were exacerbated by the English Reformation, which made it illegal for anybody not conforming to the Church of England to hold governmental office, practice law, obtain naval commission, attend university or vote in elections. However, due to Gideon's close relationship with the Whig statesman Henry Pelham he felt confident enough to lobby for the introduction of the Jewish Naturalisation Act which was passed in 1753.
By Gideon's death in 1762 he had accumulated a fortune of £350,000 (equivalent to £66 million in 2023). In his will he left £1000 to the Sephardi Jewish congregation in London on the condition he was buried with honour as a married man in their Mile End cemetery. This was due to his marrying a non-Jew, which precluded him being recognised as a married man. In 2005, the Bexley Civic Society restored a memorial to Gideon in Belvedere.
- Access points: persons/families:
- Sampson Gideon
- Subject terms:
- Financial matters
- Financial matters--Banks, banking, and bankers
- Author of the description:
- Holly Addie, University of Leeds Cultural Collections & Galleries, 2025
- Reference number:
- MS 305
- Title:
- Sampson Gideon Collection
- Title (official language):
- Sampson Gideon Collection
- Creator/accumulator:
- Sampson Gideon
- Date(s):
- 1761/1762
- Language:
- English
- Extent:
- 1 file
- Type of material:
- Textual material
- Physical condition:
- good
- Scope and content:
- This collection relates to British banker and philanthropist Sampson Gideon's financial investments in the final year of his life (1761-1762). The documents detail Gideon's financial success through investments in trade and career working in the British stock exchange. The collection is of particular interest due to Gideon's Jewish heritage and involvement in Jewish communities throughout his life.
- Administrative/biographical history:
-
Sampson Gideon (1699-1762) was born in London to a family of Sephardi Jewish heritage. His father was a prominent trader in the West Indies, active in the production of sugar cane, making an extensive fortune using enslaved Africans and indentured European servants on plantations there.
Gideon began his career in London by speculating in coffeehouses on lottery tickets, government securities and the South Sea Company. By the 1730s he was dealing in British, Dutch and French securities as well as marine insurance. During the War of Austrian Succession, he tackled anti-Semitic ideologies in London's financial circles by raising money in the Jewish community to help finance the British Army's efforts. Following this, he was offered the position of key advisor to the Bank of England on matters of high finance. The British government worked closely with Gideon to integrate Jewish Sephardic communities into the Swedish East India Company and the South Sea Company.
Beyond financial matters, Gideon aspired to found a dynasty with vast landed estate interests in England. However, due to vague laws surrounding Jews owning land and property in England, this task proved to be difficult. These challenges were exacerbated by the English Reformation, which made it illegal for anybody not conforming to the Church of England to hold governmental office, practice law, obtain naval commission, attend university or vote in elections. However, due to Gideon's close relationship with the Whig statesman Henry Pelham he felt confident enough to lobby for the introduction of the Jewish Naturalisation Act which was passed in 1753.
By Gideon's death in 1762 he had accumulated a fortune of £350,000 (equivalent to £66 million in 2023). In his will he left £1000 to the Sephardi Jewish congregation in London on the condition he was buried with honour as a married man in their Mile End cemetery. This was due to his marrying a non-Jew, which precluded him being recognised as a married man. In 2005, the Bexley Civic Society restored a memorial to Gideon in Belvedere.
- Access points: persons/families:
- Sampson Gideon
- Subject terms:
- Financial matters
- Financial matters--Banks, banking, and bankers
- Author of the description:
- Holly Addie, University of Leeds Cultural Collections & Galleries, 2025
