Alfred David Benjamin (August 9, 1848 January 8, 1900) was an Australian-born businessman and

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private good, focusing on material ...

. Benjamin immigrated to Canada in 1873 and entered into the wholesale hardware business with his father's financial backing. He became a partner in M. and L. Samuel and Company and, after the death of Lewis Samuel
/sup> in 1887, he became the leader of the company. His success in a variety of business ventures allowed him to pursue various philanthropic goals. His most important contribution was to the Jewish community in

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, where he was the leader of the

Holy Blossom Temple The Holy Blossom Temple is a Reform synagogue located at 1950 Bathurst Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the oldest Jewish congregation in Toronto. Founded in 1856, it has more than 7,000 members. W. Gunther Plaut, who died on 8 Februar ...

congregation and a major contributor to the new synagogue in 1897.

References

Biography at the ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online''
Place of birth missing Place of death missing 1848 births 1900 deaths 19th-century Australian businesspeople 19th-century Canadian businesspeople Australian chief executives Australian Jews Emigrants from colonial Australia Australian emigrants to Canada Businesspeople from Toronto Canadian chief executives Canadian Jews Canadian philanthropists 19th-century Australian philanthropists {{Toronto-stub

See also

References