Bookstore Glossary Library Links News Publications Timeline Virtual Israel Experience
Anti-Semitism Biography History Holocaust Israel Israel Education Myths & Facts Politics Religion Travel US & Israel Vital Stats Women
donate subscribe Contact About Home

Sir Morris Ximenes

XIMENES, SIR MORRIS (Moses; c. 1762–1837), English magnate. Born in London, Xiemenes was a member of the Stock Exchange and made a fortune. In 1792 he was the leading spirit in an unsuccessful expedition, partly composed of and mainly supported by London Sephardim, for the colonization of the island of Bulama off the west African coast. In 1802 he declined to serve as warden of the Bevis Marks synagogue and was converted to Anglicanism. During the Peninsular War (1812–15) Xiimenes raised and commanded a brigade of War-grave Rangers. He acquired a country estate and built a mansion at Bear Place in Berkshire. Ximenes became a captain of militia, sheriff of Berkshire, and a knight. He is mentioned by name in Frederick Marryat's novel Olla Porida (1841) as the only well-known person in England whose name began with an "X." He was the brother of Sir David *Ximenes.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

A.M. Hyamson, Sephardim of England (1951), 201f.; Roth, in: JHSET, 14 (1935–39), 14–16; 15 (1939–45); 16–18; J. Picciotto, Sketches of Anglo-Jewish History (19562), 295–7, 476.


Sources: Encyclopaedia Judaica. © 2007 The Gale Group. All Rights Reserved.