Judah Solomon

Judah Moss Solomon (21 December 1818 – 29 August 1880) was a successful businessman, Mayor of Adelaide and member of both houses of South Australian Parliament.

Solomon was born in London, a son of Samuel Moss Solomon (c. 1769–1842) and his first wife Elizabeth Solomon, née Moses, (c. 1772–c. 1814). He emigrated to Sydney around 1831 and was educated at Sydney College, which later became the University of Sydney, then for several years was employed by his uncles as supercargo on their vessels, which traded around Australia and nearby islands, and in that capacity first visited Adelaide on 20 October 1839, in the barque Strath Isla with a cargo of Timor Ponies. He worked for his uncle Israel Solomon (1818–1901), then in 1842 moved to Moreton Bay (now Brisbane, Queensland), where he was appointed Government Auctioneer, and conducted the first sale of township allotments.

In 1846 he moved to Adelaide, where he founded the auctioneering firm E. Solomon & Co. in conjunction with Emanuel Solomon (1800–1873) and Isaac Solomon (1818–1901). He was in England from 1854 to 1857, hoping to regain his failing health. E. Solomon & Co. was dissolved around this time and he set up in business on his own account, which he pursued until a few years before his death.

J. M. Solomon was elected an Alderman for the Adelaide City Council in 1852, and held that position until late 1854, when he resigned, and John Lazar won the ensuing by-election. In December 1859 he was elected Mayor, to which office he was returned unopposed the following year.

He organised a conference of South Australian mayors to discuss nuisances over which their municipalities had no control. This led to the Public Health Act now in force. He appointed a committee to solve the problem of diseased meat, which was then said to be sold in the city. He agitated for the Government to install deep drainage, and the recommendations of the committee which was then formed were largely implemented. When the various Waterworks Acts were being consolidated, Solomon gave evidence to the Select Committee which showed that the Corporation was being overcharged for water. The Victoria Bridge was opened during his term of office.

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