Samuel Cohen

The Hon. Samuel Cohen (14 July 1812 – 4 November 1861) was a 19th-century Australian colonial politician and businessman.

Born at Lambeth, Surrey, of Jewish ancestry, to merchant Barnett Cohen (1779–1856) and his wife Sierlah née Levy (1788–1854), he emigrated to Australia, arriving in Sydney on 19 April 1834, aboard the Resource. Cohen had been sent by his father to escort his brothers, David and Lewis, back to England, but was unsuccessful in doing so.

Business Interests

From 1835 Cohen lived at Maitland, and partnered with Lewis Levy, who later also entered politics.

Personal life

On 23 August 1837 Cohen married Rachel Nathan (1813–1893), having seven children, of whom the eldest Sarah Mandelson (1839–1894) was great-great-grandmother of New Labour grandee, Peter Mandelson.

Samuel Cohen died suddenly, in Sydney, on 4 November 1861. The Empire reported that "the mournful cortege consisted of a hearse, fourteen mourning coaches, and seventy-two carriages... As the funeral passed through the different streets, large numbers of spectators assembled to witness it; thus showing the general esteem in which the deceased gentleman was held by all sections of the community."

Cohen's widow returned to London, dying at Kensington on 26 October 1893.