Samson Ricardo

Samson Israel Ricardo (19 November 1792 – 14 November 1862) was a British politician who served as the Whig Member of Parliament (MP).

Samson Israel Ricardo
Member of Parliament for Windsor
In office 1855–1857 Serving with Charles William Grenfell
Preceded by	Lord Charles Wellesley
Succeeded by	William Vansittart
Personal details
Born	(1792-11-19)19 November 1792 London, England
Died	14 November 1862(1862-11-14) (aged 69) Grosvenor Place, London England
Political party	Whig
Relations	David Ricardo (brother)
Parent(s)	Abraham Israel Ricardo Abigail Delvalle
Occupation	Businessman, politician

Early life

Ricardo was born in London on 19 November 1792 into the wealthy family of Portuguese origin.^[1] He was a younger son of successful stockbroker Abraham Israel Ricardo and Abigail (née Delvalle) Ricardo, a daughter of Abraham Delvalle (also "del Valle"). Among his siblings were the political economist David Ricardo and financier Jacob Ricardo, who was the father of John Lewis Ricardo.^[2]

The Ricardo family were Sephardic Jews of Portuguese origin who had recently relocated from the Dutch Republic.^[3] His maternal aunt, Rebecca Delvalle, was wife of the engraver Wilson Lowry, mother of the engraver Joseph Wilson Lowry as well as the geologist, mineralogist, and author Delvalle Lowry.^[4][5][3][6]

Career

He was also the business partner of his nephew John Lewis Ricardo, with whom he became an investor and director of the Electric Telegraph Company.^[7]

Ricardo was elected as MP for Windsor^[8] a by-election from 1855 to 1857.^[9] He had failed to win the seat in the 1852 general election and lost it in the 1857 general election.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Ricardo died at Grosvenor Place in London on 14 November 1862.^[10]