Ellis Arthur Franklin
Ellis Arthur Franklin | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 28, 1894 Kensington, London, England |
| Died | January 16, 1964 (aged 69) |
| Occupation | Merchant banker |
| Known for | Banking at Keyser & Co; teaching at The Working Men's College |
Ellis Arthur Franklin OBE (28 March 1894 – 16 January 1964) was a prominent English merchant banker.
Early life
Born in Kensington, London, Franklin belonged to a prosperous Anglo-Jewish lineage. His father, Arthur Ellis Franklin, was a merchant banker and held the position of senior partner at Keyser & Co, while his mother was Caroline Jacob.
The family maintained strong ties with the Montagu-Samuel banking and political circles. His grandfather, Ellis Abraham Franklin (1822–1909), had been a partner at Samuel Montagu and was related by marriage to Lord Swaythling. Additionally, his uncle, Herbert Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel, held the office of Home Secretary in 1916 and became the inaugural High Commissioner for the British Mandate of Palestine.
Among his siblings were Helen Bentwich, known for her involvement in trade unionism, women's suffrage, and participation on the London County Council, as well as Hugh Franklin (suffragist), recognized as a militant suffragist and advocate for penal reform.
Career
Franklin worked as a banker at Keyser & Co, where his father served as senior partner. In 1919, he commenced teaching Electricity at The Working Men's College, an opportunity facilitated by his uncle Lionel Jacob, also a banker. By 1922, he had advanced to Vice Principal, significantly contributing to fundraising efforts within the City and aiding in the recruitment of new Corporation members from the Home Office, The Bar, and City sectors.
Personal life
Ellis Franklin was married to Muriel Frances Waley (1894–1976), with whom he resided in London. The couple had five children: David (1919–1986); Rosalind Franklin (1920–1958), a distinguished biophysicist who played a crucial role in DNA research; Colin Ellis Franklin (1923–2020), an author and antiquarian bookseller; Sir Roland Franklin (1926–2024), who pursued a career in merchant banking; and Jenifer (born 1929).
During World War II, Ellis A. Franklin provided assistance to Jewish refugees escaping Europe, some of whom were accommodated within the family residence.