Charles Semon

Charles Joseph Semon (1814 — 1877), was born in Danzig, Free City in 1814 of German Jewish decent. He came to Bradford in the middle of the 19th century and soon built up one of the most important textile export houses in the Town.

His expertise was not just in running his successful textile export business, he was also a leading light in Bradford's Municipal affairs, charities and education.

Semon was an active member of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce from its foundation and was Vice President in 1871. It was on his initiative that the Chamber of Commerce made representations to the Government of the day for the conclusion of a commercial treaty with Rumania which brought great benefit to the textile industry of the town.

Semon was the first foreign and Jewish Mayor of Bradford, elected in 1864, he also served with distinction on the municipal council for a number of years. He was made Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Charles Semon was a major philanthropist, he paid for and built a convalescent home in Ilkley on the Yorkshire Moors in 1874, in 1876 he handed it over to Bradford Corporation with an endowment for its upkeep.

Charles Joseph Semon died in Switzerland in 1877, in his will he bequeathed £35,000 for the benefit of educational institutions in Bradford.

References

External links

• Bradford's Anglo Jewish History,[1]

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Date of birth	1914
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Date of death	1877
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