Joseph Jonas (1845 – 22 August 1921) was the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

-born

Lord Mayor of Sheffield The Lord Mayor of Sheffield is a ceremonial post held by a member of Sheffield City Council. They are elected annually by the council. The post originated in 1843, with the appointment of William Jeffcock as the first Mayor of Sheffield. ...

, England in 1904–05.

Background

Jonas was born in

Bingen am Rhein Bingen am Rhein () is a town in the Mainz-Bingen district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The settlement's original name was Bingium, a Celtic languages, Celtic word that may have meant "hole in the rock", a description of the shoal behind the ...

, in the

Grand Duchy of Hesse The Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine () was a grand duchy in western Germany that existed from 1806 to 1918. The grand duchy originally formed from the Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt in 1806 as the Grand Duchy of Hesse (). It assumed the name ...

in 1845, and became a naturalized

British citizen The primary law governing nationality in the United Kingdom is the British Nationality Act 1981, which came into force on 1 January 1983. Regulations apply to the British Islands, which include the UK itself (England, Wales, Scotland, and Nor ...

in 1876. (transcribed by Eric Youle). The same year he married Lucy Ann Earle; they had five sons and one daughter. He had fled his home country in 1867 to avoid military service. He went to

Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...

in about 1870 to start a steel business. About two years later, Robert Colver of Western Bank joined him and the business became Jonas, Meyer and Colver. He prospered and with partners ran the Continental Steel Works, which by 1890 was one of the most successful in the area, particularly with its production of

high speed steel High-speed steel (HSS or HS) is a subset of tool steels, commonly used as cutting tool material. Compared to high-carbon steel tools, high-speed steels can withstand higher temperatures without losing their temper (hardness), allowing use of f ...

. He became a town councillor in 1890 and

Lord Mayor Lord mayor is a title of a mayor of what is usually a major city in a Commonwealth realm, with special recognition bestowed by the sovereign. However, the title or an equivalent is present in other countries, including forms such as "high mayor". A ...

in 1904. In 1905 he received a

knighthood A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood ...

. He was a Justice of the Peace and a benefactor of the

University of Sheffield The University of Sheffield (informally Sheffield University or TUOS) is a public university, public research university in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. Its history traces back to the foundation of Sheffield Medical School in 1828, Fir ...

, particularly the Applied Sciences, and also helped establish chairs in German and French.H. Mathers (2005 ) ''Steel City Scholars - the centenary history of the University of Sheffield''; His picture now hangs in Mappin Hall of the University, and his mansion became student accommodation, Halifax Hall.

Trial

In 1918, Jonas was charged with two others of conspiring to contravene the

Official Secrets Act 1911 The Official Secrets Act 1911 ( 1 & 2 Geo. 5. c. 28) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It replaced the Official Secrets Act 1889 ( 52 & 53 Vict. c. 52). The act was introduced in response to public alarm at reports of wide- ...

with regards to discussions about munitions with a German friend and customer in 1913. One of the defendants was released before the trial was concluded as there no evidence against him and Jonas and the other defendant were found not guilty of the main felony charges, but guilty of two minor misdemeanour charges. Jonas was fined £2,000 (equivalent to approximately £ today) and the co-defendant £1,000 and ordered to pay the prosecution's costs. Following his conviction, Jonas's Knighthood was removed in August 1918. On 11 March 1919, the Home Secretary informed the House of Commons that the case of Joseph Jonas had been "submitted to the Certificates of Naturalisation (Revocation) Committee constituted under the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1918. The Committee have reported that they are not satisfied that Mr. Jonas has shown himself by act or speech to be disaffected or disloyal to His Majesty. His certificate of naturalisation cannot, therefore, be revoked."

Death

Joseph Jonas died in August 1921 from a stroke. He was buried in

All Saints Church, Ecclesall All Saints is a Church of England parish church in Sheffield, England. It is a Grade II listed building, and is located in Ecclesall, between Ringinglow Road and Ecclesall Road South. All Saints' emergent youth and young adults congregation is ...

. His funeral on 25 August 1921 was attended by many local dignitaries, including the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, the local MP and representatives of Sheffield University and the local

chamber of commerce A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to a ...

. After Jonas's death his widow remarried, to William Clegg.

References and notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jonas, Joseph 1845 births 1921 deaths People from Bingen am Rhein Immigrants to the United Kingdom Politicians from Rhenish Hesse People associated with the University of Sheffield Lord mayors of Sheffield Councillors in Sheffield People stripped of a British Commonwealth honour Date of birth unknown Place of death missing

Background

Trial

Death

See also

References and notes