Nathan Marcus Adler
| Chief Rabbi Nathan Marcus Adler | |
|---|---|
| Chief Rabbi of the British Empire | |
 |
|
| Position | Chief Rabbi |
| Began | 13 October 1844 |
| Ended | 21 January 1890 |
| Predecessor | Solomon Hirschell |
| Successor | Hermann Adler |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
13 January 1803 Hanover, Electorate of Hanover |
| Died | 21 January 1890 (aged 87) Brighton, United Kingdom |
Rabbi Nathan Marcus HaKohen Adler (13 January 1803 – 21 January 1890) (Hebrew name: Natan ben Mordechai ha-Kohen) was the Orthodox Chief Rabbi of the British Empire from 1845 until his death.
A kohen by birth, Rabbi Nathan was born in Hanover, in present-day Germany. He was apparently named after the kabbalist Nathan Adler (according to the biography of the latter in the Jewish Encyclopedia). His distant relative Jacob Adler, who made his acquaintance in the winter of 1883–1884, described him as the "highest religious authority not only of London Jews but of all Orthodox Jews throughout the United Kingdom and the Empire." He subscribed to what was known as the Frankfurter Orthodoxy.
Whilst Rabbi in Hanover, he became acquainted with Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, Viceroy of the Kingdom of Hanover (till 1837 a monarchy in personal union with the UK), who is thought to have recommended him for the post of Chief Rabbi in Britain.
Out of 13 candidates, mostly from Germany, he made the short list of four for the post of Chief Rabbi of the British Empire. The three others were: Samson Raphael Hirsch, Benjamin Hirsch Auerbach, Hirsch Hirschfeld. With 135 communities voting having one vote each, on 1 December 1844, Adler received 121 votes, Hirschfeld 12, and Hirsch 2.
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