Joseph d'Aguilar Samuda

Joseph d'Aguilar Samuda (21 May 1813 – 27 April 1885 was Jewish English civil engineer and politician. He was born in London the younger son of Abraham Samuda, and brother of Jacob Samuda. He started out in his father's counting-house, but in 1832 he joined his elder brother to set up Samuda Brothers.

Joseph and his brother Jacob set themselves up as marine marine and general engineers and shipbuilders on the Isle of Dogs . For the first ten years the company principally confined itself to the building of marine engines. Then they engaged in the construction of railway lines on the atmospheric principle. In 1843 they entered the ship-building business, and from that time onward, notwithstanding the tragic death of Jacob in an accident on the Thames, the firm was continuously engaged in constructing iron steamships for the Royal Navy, merchant marine, and passenger and mail services, besides royal yachts and river-boats. Many of these vessels were built under Samuda's personal superintendence.

In 1860 Joseph helped to establish the Institute of Naval Architects, of which he was the first treasurer and subsequently a vice-president. He frequently contributed to its "Transactions." In 1862 he became a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, to whose "Proceedings" he likewise contributed. He was the author of "A Treatise on the Adaptation of Atmospheric Pressure to the Purposes of Locomotion on Railways."

He also had an important parliamentary career. He was a member of the Metropolitan Board of Works from 1860 to 1865, whereupon he entered Parliament as the Liberal MP for Tavistock. He sat for that constituency until 1868, when he was returned for the Tower Hamlets, which he represented until 1880. Then he lost his seat owing to his support for Lord Beaconsfield's foreign policy. While in the House he spoke with much authority on all matters connected with his profession. Some of his speeches are described as "treasure-houses of technical and political knowledge." He abandoned Judaism and was buried interred in Kensal Green Cemetery. In 1837 he married Louisa Ballin, daughter of Samuel Ballin of Holloway.

The Samuda Estate, on the site of his shipyard, in Cubitt Town, is named after him and his brother, and includes Ballin Court, named after his wife, Louisa. They lived at 7 Gloucester Square, Bayswater and had a daughter called Ada.

References

*Rayment