Sigmond Hoffnung

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Sigmond Hoffnung, birth 1830 Kalisz, Poland, died 1904
HOFFNUNG, SIGMOND (1830-1904), merchant, was born in Kalisz, Poland, the elder son of Rev. Samuel Hoffnung and his wife Caroline. In 1836 his father migrated to England with his family, became minister and cantor of the small Jewish communit y in Newcastle upon Tyne and in 1840 moved to the Exeter Synagogue. Sigmond was educated in Liverpool but lack of money forced him to leave home and become a junior salesman with a West Country firm. He became friendly with a customer, Henry Natha n, who lent him ¹500 to buy assorted goods and take them to Sydney. Hoffnung arrived early in 1852 and opened a wholesale business in Wynyard Square. He soon sold his stock, repaid the loan, then made arrangements with Nathan to act as his buyer . Hoffnung prospered and in 1855 moved to larger premises in George Street. Knowledgeable about the needs of settlers, he visited England in 1857 to replenish his stock and to swell his capital and made a formal partnership with Nathan. In Sydne y on 26 May 1858 he married Elizabeth Marks of Raymond Terrace.

Hoffnung was prominent in Jewish activities. He was auditor of the York Street Synagogue in 1858 and remained one of its leaders. He served on committees to raise money for distressed Jews in Palestine, the Sydney Jewish Sabbath School, the Sydne y Hebrew Certified Denominational School and the Jewish Philanthropic and Orphan Society. In 1866 he was treasurer and a benefactor of the Great Synagogue's building committee, president of the York Street Synagogue and in 1870-76 a member of it s board of management. In 1875 he organized the Hebrew Ladies' Bazaar at which his wife alone raised ¹1285 towards the Great Synagogue building fund.

In 1870 S. Hoffnung & Co. moved into new premises designed by Thomas Rowe in Pitt Street and in 1871 opened a Brisbane branch. The firm also established other branches in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji and had its head office in London. They als o had a large factory in Sydney making saddlery and harness. Their range of wholesale goods included American canned fruits and jams, watches, glass and china, ironmongery, rocking-horses, firearms, iron safes and patent medicines. Hoffnung se t up the first opal-cutting business in Australia and exported uncut diamonds and sapphires for industrial use. In 1875 he was on the committee of the Trade Protection Society of New South Wales.

In 1877 Hoffnung returned to England and took charge of the London office. His brother Abraham, who had been a successful merchant in America, Canada and Liverpool, joined S. Hoffnung & Co. in 1886. Abraham spent some years in Australia and in Lon don was charg? d'affaires for Hawaii before its annexation. In 1889 Sigmond retired from the firm, which in 1899 became a private company and in 1902 a public company which later had its headquarters at 153 Clarence Street, Sydney. With his brothe r he restored the Exeter Synagogue. Aged 74 he died on 27 August 1904 in Queen's Gate, Kensington, London, and was buried in the Golders Green cemetery. He was survived by his wife; their only child Sidney, who married Violet, daughter of Sir Juli an Goldsmid, took the name Hoffnung-Goldsmid by royal licence, became a director of the company and died in 1930. to:
NN NN

1) Sidney (Solomon) Francis Hoffnung, birth 1862 NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, died 1930, buried Hoop Lane Cemetery
Married 26 Nov 1889 London, West London Synagogue Maryleborne to:
Violet Goldsmid, birth 1869 London, died 1949, daughter of Julian Goldsmid and Virginia Philipson
Baroness de Goldsmid e da Palmeira

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