Samuel Fisher, Baron Fisher of Camden (20 January 1905 – 12 October 1979) was a British businessman, local politician and leading member of the Jewish community.
Fisher was born in
Stepney
Stepney is a district in the East End of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The district is no longer officially defined, and is usually used to refer to a relatively small area. However, for much of its history the place name appl ...
in the
East End
The East End of London, often referred to within the London area simply as the East End, is the historic core of wider East London, east of the Roman and medieval walls of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It does not have uni ...
of
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
as Samuel Fishtenberg, the son of Eastern European immigrants. He left school to start work at the age of 15, eventually entering the diamond business as a broker in the
Hatton Garden
Hatton Garden is a street and commercial zone in the Holborn district of the London Borough of Camden, abutting the narrow precinct of Saffron Hill which then abuts the City of London. It takes its name from Sir Christopher Hatton, a favourit ...
area. He rose to become Secretary and Vice-President of the London Diamond Bourse.
In 1945 he entered local politics as a
Labour Party member of
Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington is an area occupying the north-west part of the London Borough of Hackney in north-east London, England. It is northeast of Charing Cross. The Manor of Stoke Newington gave its name to Stoke Newington the ancient parish.
The ...
Borough Council, and served as Mayor of Stoke Newington in 1953–54. He became a
JP for
Inner London
Inner London is the name for the group of London boroughs which form the interior part of Greater London and are surrounded by Outer London. With its origins in the bills of mortality, it became fixed as an area for statistics in 1847 and was use ...
in 1951.
When
Camden London Borough Council
Camden London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Camden in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London. Camden is divided into 18 wards, each electing th ...
was created as a shadow authority in 1964 he was its Chairman, and was chosen as the first Mayor of Camden in 1965–1966.
He was the last chairman of the
Metropolitan Water Board
The Metropolitan Water Board was a municipal body formed in 1903 to manage the water supply in London, UK. The members of the board were nominated by the local authorities within its area of supply. In 1904 it took over the water supply functi ...
in 1973–1974.
Fisher was prominent in lay organisations representing Jewry: he was president of the
Board of Deputies of British Jews
The Board of Deputies of British Jews, commonly referred to as the Board of Deputies, is the largest and second oldest Jewish communal organisation in the United Kingdom, after only the Initiation Society which was founded in 1745. Established ...
from 1973 to 1979, and was Chairman of the Governing Board of the
World Jewish Congress
The World Jewish Congress (WJC) was founded in Geneva, Switzerland in August 1936 as an international federation of Jewish communities and organizations. According to its mission statement, the World Jewish Congress' main purpose is to act as ...
at the time of his death.
Fisher was
knighted
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...
in 1967. He was created a
life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited, in contrast to hereditary peers. In modern times, life peerages, always created at the rank of baron, are created under the Life Peerages ...
as Baron Fisher of Camden, of
Camden in
Greater London
Greater may refer to:
*Greatness, the state of being great
*Greater than, in inequality (mathematics), inequality
*Greater (film), ''Greater'' (film), a 2016 American film
*Greater (flamingo), the oldest flamingo on record
*Greater (song), "Greate ...
in 1974.
He married Millie Gluckstein in 1930: they had two daughters.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fisher, Samuel, Baron Fisher of Camden
Labour Party (UK) life peers
Jewish British politicians
1905 births
1979 deaths
Knights Bachelor
Presidents of the Board of Deputies of British Jews
British Zionists
Councillors in the London Borough of Camden
Businesspeople from London
20th-century English businesspeople
Labour Party (UK) councillors
Life peers created by Elizabeth II