Arthur Sassoon

Arthur Abraham David Sassoon
Born
Died	13 March 1912(1912-03-13) (aged 71) Leighton Buzzard, England
Occupation(s)	Financier, social figure
Known for	Board member of Hong Kong Bank (HSBC), director of David Sassoon & Company

Arthur Abraham David Sassoon MVO (25 May 1840 – 13 March 1912) was a prominent English financier and notable social figure.

Early life

Born on 25 May 1840, Arthur Abraham David Sassoon was the fifth son of David Sassoon (1792–1864), a Jewish merchant involved in cotton and opium trade in China and formerly the Treasurer of Baghdad. His mother, Farha (Hyeem) Sassoon, was recognized for her philanthropic efforts. Among his relatives were his brother Reuben David Sassoon, who also pursued banking, and his uncle Sir Edward Sassoon, 2nd Baronet.

Career

Sassoon played a foundational role as a board member of the Hong Kong Bank, which later became known as The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC). Additionally, he held a lengthy tenure as a director at David Sassoon & Company in London, a trading enterprise established by his brother Reuben.

Personal life

In 1873, he wed Eugenie Louise Perugia, whose sister was married to Leopold de Rothschild. The couple made their home at Albert Gate in Knightsbridge. Eugenie gained recognition as a distinguished socialite and was awarded a CBE for her charitable work supporting impoverished Jewish girls. Her likeness, painted by George Frederic Watts, is exhibited at Tate Britain.

The family lived for many years in Hove, East Sussex, initially at 6 Queen's Gardens before moving to 8 King's Gardens—a Grade II listed property. Their household staff numbered thirteen, ranking them among the largest private employers in Hove. Nearby lived his brother Reuben.

Arthur Sassoon maintained a close friendship and advisory relationship with King Edward VII, who often stayed with him during visits to Brighton and joined him on outings to Worthing Pier and the gardens at Beach House. These excursions also served therapeutic purposes for the monarch. The King also frequented Sassoon’s Scottish estate during hunting seasons. Following Edward VII’s death in 1910, Sassoon donated £100 toward the memorial statue unveiled in 1912 along the Brighton and Hove waterfront.

Arthur Sassoon passed away on 13 March 1912 at the residence of his brother-in-law Leopold de Rothschild in Leighton Buzzard. His photogravure portrait by Walker & Boutall is preserved by London’s National Portrait Gallery. Four stained glass windows in Brighton’s Middle Street Synagogue honor his memory. His estate was valued at over £650,000 and was inherited by the children of his brother Reuben.

The Sassoon family maintained strong ties to Brighton and Hove throughout the 19th and 20th centuries; Henry Labouchère once famously commented that "Brighton is a sea-coast town... with a Sassoon at each end and one in the middle," referring to Albert, Reuben, and Arthur respectively.

Bibliography

• Antram, Nicholas; Morrice, Richard. Brighton and Hove. Pevsner Architectural Guides. Yale University Press, London, 2008. ISBN 978-0-300-12661-7
• Middleton, Judy. The Encyclopaedia of Hove & Portslade. Brighton & Hove Libraries, Brighton, 2003.