David Goldbaum

David Goldbaum (1858–1930) was a Mexican surveyor and politician. He served as the mayor of Ensenada, Baja California, from 1927 to 1930 and surveyed much of Baja California.

Early life David Goldbaum was born in 1858 in Mexico. His father was of Polish-Jewish origin who emigrated to Mexico as a pioneer. and was later murdered by the Apaches in 1886. His cousin, Julius Goldbaum, sold tobacco, wine and cheese through Julius Goldbaum, Inc. in Arizona; he also owned mining interests in Arizona.

Goldbaum was kidnapped with several schoolchildren as a child and released after his father paid a ransom. He then served as Mayor from 1927 to 1930. He wrote The Charles Pacheco colony, an essay of fourteen pages, in 1917. A year later, in 1918, he wrote, Indian tribes of northern district, Lower California, Mexico., an essay of twenty-three pages. That same year, he wrote Towns and villages of Lower California. in 1918.

Goldbaum co-wrote Towns of Baja California: A 1918 Report. It was rediscovered by Ellen C. Barrett in 1954 and translated into English by William O. Hendricks of the Sherman Foundation. In a 1972 academic review written by Dr. W. Michael Mathes, an Associate Professor of History at the University of San Francisco, for The Journal of San Diego History, Mathes suggested it was "rather brief", with "a well-researched and well-written introduction and extensive historical notes on each settlement".

According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, he was "a personal friend" of Presidents Porfirio Díaz, Plutarco Elías Calles and Emilio Portes Gil.

Legacy The Crassinella goldbaumi, a mollusk mostly found in Baja California, was named in his honor.