Herbert Samuel

Date of Birth: November 6, 1870

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: February 5, 1963

Biography

Herbert Louis Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel, was a prominent British Liberal politician and statesman. Born into a well-established Jewish family, Samuel was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, where he developed his passion for politics and public service. He entered the House of Commons in 1902 as a member of the Liberal Party and quickly rose through the ranks due to his intellect and dedication to public welfare. Samuel held various key positions throughout his career, including Home Secretary and Postmaster General. Notably, he was the first nominally practicing Jew to serve as a Cabinet minister and to become the leader of a major British political party. One of Samuel’s most significant roles was serving as the High Commissioner for Palestine from 1920 to 1925, during the British Mandate. His administration laid down many of the modern administrative foundations in Palestine. Samuel was also a strong advocate for social reforms, including workers’ rights and education improvements. After retiring from active politics, he was raised to the peerage as Viscount Samuel and continued to contribute to public life through writing and speaking until his death in 1963.

5 Interesting Facts about Herbert Samuel

1. Herbert Samuel was the first Jewish member of the British Cabinet.

2. He played a crucial role in the establishment of British policy in Palestine.

3. Samuel was an early advocate for the Zionist movement, although he later distanced himself from some of its more extreme elements.

4. He was instrumental in introducing the Old Age Pensions Act in 1908.

5. Samuel was known for his contributions to the development of radio broadcasting in the UK during his tenure as Postmaster General.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Herbert Samuel

1. “The world is wide, and I will not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum.”

2. “A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman thinks of the next generation.”

3. “To be conservative at twenty is heartless and to be a liberal at sixty is plain idiocy.”

4. “The proper time to influence the character of a child is about a hundred years before he is born.”

5. “It is the essence of statesmanship to foresee and to forestall.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Herbert Samuel’s highest net worth was not widely documented, as public records from his era do not typically include such information. However, as a noble peer and influential statesman, he was likely quite affluent by the standards of his time.

Children

Herbert Samuel had four children with his wife, Beatrice Miriam Franklin. Their names were Edwin Herbert Samuel, Stuart Samuel, Philip Samuel, and Nancy Samuel. Edwin Herbert Samuel followed in his father’s footsteps to some extent, becoming a prominent figure in public service and the Zionist movement.