Bethel Jacobs

Bethel Jacobs (1812–1869) was born in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, becoming a prominent member of Hull's Jewish community, and highly regarded in the Town's civic circles.^[1][2][3][4] A successful silversmith and polymath who lived in a large house on George Street,^[5] he was son of jeweller and synagogue president Israel Jacobs,^[4] and son-in-law to Joseph Lyon,^[6] president of the rival synagogue.^[2] He married Esther Lyon in 1836, by whom he had 14 children.^[1][6] He died of liver disease in 1869 age 57,^[7][8] and was given a major public funeral.^[1][9] Amongst many talented descendents,^{[1][2][6][10]} his son Charles M. Jacobs constructed under-river tunnels in New York and Paris.^[1][11][12]

Bethel Jacobs
Born	1812 Kingston upon Hull
Died	1869

Activities

After studying in Leipzig,^[2] he returned to his father's town centre business, overseeing the silversmith and clockmaking workshop.^[2] A capable inventor, musician, dramatist and speaker,^{[2][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]} he was soon well-known for his silverware and shop in Whitefriargate,^{[1][21][22][23][24]} for taking on public roles such as Governor of the Poor,^{[25][26][27][28][29]} and for giving wide-ranging lectures.^{[15][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]} Jacobs became Master of the Humber masonic Lodge and a Town Councillor,^[42][43] as well an influential synagogue president.^{[1][2][44][45][46][47][48]}

President of Hull Literary & Philosophical Society,^[49][2] and the Mechanics' Institute,^[50][51] Jacobs led Hull's contribution to the 1851 Great Exhibition.^[52][53] Drawing the 1853 Association for the Advancement of Science to Hull,^[54][55][56] and after Victoria and Albert stayed at the (later Royal) Station Hotel in 1854,^[57] he was made Jeweller and Silversmith to Her Majesty that year.^{[1][58][13][59]}

A founder of the Hull Archers and later Lieutenant and Paymaster of Hull Volunteer Rifle Corps,^[60][61][62] and president of Hull's Royal Institution, Jacobs established Hull of School Art in 1861.^{[63][1][64][65]} In 1863 he erected in front of his shop the first of Hull's electric time balls; it was connected to Greenwich, and fell at noon, visible to shipping.^[1][66]

Several of Jacobs' clocks are housed in museums.^{[1][67][68][69][70]}