Jacob Levi Montefiore

Not to be confused with Jacob Barrow Montefiore.

Jacob Levi Montefiore (11 January 1819 – 24 January 1885) was a British businessman and financier known for his activities in the Australian colony of New South Wales.

Jacob Montefiore
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
In office 3 November 1874 – 23 July 1877
In office 22 May 1856 – 23 April 1860
Personal details
Born	Jacob Levi (1819-01-11)11 January 1819 Bridgetown, Barbados
Died	24 January 1885(1885-01-24) (aged 66) London, England
Spouse	Caroline Louyet ​ (m. 1851)​
Relations	Eliezer Levi Montefiore (brother)
Occupation	Financier

Early life

He was born at Bridgetown in Barbados to merchant Isaac Jacob Levi^[1] and his wife Esther Hannah Montefiore, who was related to Sir Moses Montefiore and the Rothschilds.^[2] The children adopted their mother's surname, including Jacob's younger brother Eliezer Levi Montefiore.^[3]

New South Wales

In New South Wales he was a squatter and trader. On 9 July 1851 he married Caroline Antonine Gerardine Louyet in London. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1856 to 1860 and again from 1874 to 1877.^[4] He was Belgian Consul from 1863. He also published works on economic theory, was chairman of a number of mining companies, campaigned for free trade, and composed the libretto for the opera Don John of Austria with music by Isaac Nathan.^[2]

Personal life

Montefiore died in London on 24 January 1885(1885-01-24) (aged 66).^[4]

He was a nephew of Jacob Barrow Montefiore and Joseph Barrow Montefiore.^[5]