Lewis Cohen (mayor)
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Sir Lewis Cohen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mayor of Adelaide | |
| In office 1889–1890, 1901–1904, 1909–1911, 1921–1923 | |
| Member of the South Australian House of Assembly for Adelaide | |
| In office 1902–1906 | |
| Member of the South Australian House of Assembly for North Adelaide | |
| In office 1887–1893 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 December 1849 Liverpool, UK |
| Died | 24 June 1933 (aged 83) |
Sir Lewis Cohen (23 December 1849 – 24 June 1933) was a businessman who was a Member of the South Australian Parliament for 10 years and served on the Adelaide City Council for 30 years. He was Mayor of Adelaide 1889–1890, 1901–1904, and 1909–1911, and then Lord Mayor 1921–1923. He was knighted in 1924.
Cohen was born in Liverpool, where his father had a clothing business. At age two he was taken with his family to Sydney to set up business there. Nine years later with the business running successfully, the family returned to England, and Lewis was sent to Jewish school at Edmonton. At age 17 he returned to Sydney and at 19, bankrolled by his father and accompanied by a friend, he set up a shop in Levuka, then capital of Fiji. He took part in public affairs there, and was elected to Levuka's first council in 1872. With his health failing, he returned to Sydney in 1873, where he remained until 1876 when on medical advice he and his wife moved to Adelaide, opening a branch of the London Discount Bank.[1][2]
Public affairs
- He was Member of the House of Assembly from 1887 to 1893 for North Adelaide and with the Australasian National League from 1902 to 1906 for Adelaide.[3]
- He was a member of Adelaide City Council for 30 years and Mayor from 1901 to 1904, Lord Mayor from 1921 to 1923, and in 1911 represented the City of Adelaide at the coronation of King George V and was responsible for upgrading the position to that of Lord Mayor.[2]
- He was Chief Magistrate for 7 years.
- He was a member of the Municipal Tramways Trust for 7 years.[4]
- In 1879 he was elected president and treasurer of the Adelaide Hebrew Congregation.[2]
- He was involved with several Friendly Societies and served as Grand President of the Druids for several years.[2]
