Isaac Isaacs (1 July 1858, Melbourne - 16 January 1935, Adelaide, aged 76) was an Adelaide businessman who served as Mayor of the City of Adelaide from 4 December 1915[1] to November 1917.[2][3][4]

Isaac Isaacs
Isaac Isaacs ca. 1915-1917
Mayor of the City of Adelaide
In office
4 December 1915 (1915-12-04) – 30 November 1917 (1917-11-30)
Preceded byAlfred Allen Simpson
Succeeded byCharles Richmond Glover
Personal details
Born(1858-07-01)1 July 1858
Melbourne, Victoria
Died16 January 1935(1935-01-16) (aged 76)
Thorngate, Adelaide, South Australia
NationalityAustralian
SpouseZelinda Rosetta Raphael
Parent
  • Wolf Isaacs (father)
Residence(s)Dunedin, Melbourne, Adelaide
OccupationLand agent

Early years

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Isaacs was born in Melbourne, Victoria, the second son of Wolf Isaacs. In 1862[5] his family moved to Dunedin, New Zealand, where he was educated at Christchurch. After "about 25 years' residence in New Zealand", he returned to Victoria.[3][4][6]

Victoria

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In Victoria he was elected treasurer for the demonstration to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887. In 1889 he was elected grand president for Australasia of the United Ancient Order of Druids; on his retirement from that office he was presented with a gold medal in recognition of 10 years continuous service on the board of directors.[3]

Adelaide

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Isaacs left Victoria in July 1899 to live in Adelaide and take the role of managing trustee of the estate of his father-in-law Ralph Raphael.[3] Ralph Raphael had died in 1890, leaving his financial business in the hands of his partner and only son Henry Joseph Raphael[7] who died in 1899.[8]

Adelaide City Council membership

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Isaac Isaacs was a member of the Adelaide City Council for 30 years. He served as a councillor from 1902 to 1906, alderman from 1907 to 1915, mayor 1915–1917, and alderman again from 1917 to 1933. He also filled the role of chief magistrate during World War I, and was chairman of the Finance Committee for more than 12 years.[3][6]

Public positions

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Isaacs was president of the Justice Association, chairman of the Liberal Federation, a representative of the Municipal Tramways Trust, representative of both the City and the Suburban Local Boards of Health on the Central Board of Health, representative of the Adelaide Local Board of Health on the Metropolitan County Board under the Food and Drugs Act, member of the Metropolitan Infectious Diseases Hospital Board and held important positions in other organisations. He was also a land agent and an adjustor of fire claims.[3][4]

Personal

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Isaacs was a football enthusiast, a master of the St Andrews Masonic Lodge, a master of the Southern Cross Masonic Lodge, for three years chief president of the South Australian branch of the Australian Natives' Association, and president of the Adelaide Jewish Philanthropic Society.[3][4]

He married Zelinda Rosetta Raphael, daughter of Ralph Raphael, one of South Australia's pioneers. She was born in London in 1857 and was brought to Australia as an infant. She died at her home, "Quevedo", 2 Main North Road, Thorngate, on 10 July 1937, aged 80, and was buried at West Terrace Cemetery.[3][9]

She was survived by a son, R.R. Isaacs of Melbourne, and a daughter, Mrs. Mark Hains of Flaxley.[3][9]

References

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  1. ^ "ADELAIDE'S NEW MAYOR". The Mail (Adelaide). Vol. 4, no. 186. South Australia. 4 December 1915. p. 7. Retrieved 18 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "MAYOR ISAACS". Daily Herald. Vol. 8, no. 2399. South Australia. 27 November 1917. p. 8. Retrieved 18 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Death of Alderman Isaacs, 17 January 1935, The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), pg.14. Includes a photograph.
    Death of prominent Adelaide citizen, 18 January 1935, Northern Standard (Darwin, NT), pg.9
  4. ^ a b c d Civic Leaders Archived 24 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine, www.adelaidejmuseum.org
  5. ^ Public Records Office of Victoria, Index to Outward Passengers to Interstate, UK, NZ and Foreign Ports 1852-1923, CITY OF HOBART MAR 1862 OTAGO
  6. ^ a b New Mayor of Adelaide, 7 December 1915, Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW), pg.2
    New Mayors, 6 December 1915, The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), pg.9. Includes a photograph. Otherwise, identical to "Barrier Miner" report.
    Mayors for 1917, 28 November 1916, The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), pg.10. Except for the first half of the first sentence, identical to 6 December 1915 article - including the same photo.
  7. ^ "The Advertiser THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1890". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. XXXIII, no. 9995. South Australia. 30 October 1890. p. 4. Retrieved 18 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "DEATH OF MR. H. J. RAPHAEL". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 5 July 1899. p. 3. Retrieved 18 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ a b Death of former Mayoress of Adelaide, 12 July 1937, The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), pg.20
    City's Wartime Mayoress Dies, 10 July 1937, The Mail (Adelaide, SA), pg.2
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