Franklin, Lumley
b. 1820
d. 1873-08
Born c.1820 in Liverpool, England, Lumley Franklin immigrated first to California (1845) and then to Victoria (1858), accompanied by his brother, Selim Franklin.1
The Franklin brothers were auctioneers and real estate agents in San Francisco, and continued their business ventures in Victoria with the establishment of S. Franklin & Co., located on Yates Street.2 Both brothers were prominent members of the early Jewish community of Victoria, executive members of the Victoria Philharmonic Society, and had brief but significant careers in politics.3 Lumley is noted as a founding member, and in 1865 Worshipful Master, of the Victoria Masonic Lodge (no. 1085).4
In November 1865, with the endorsement of Thomas Harris (the first Mayor of Victoria), Lumley became the second Mayor of Victoria and the first Jewish mayor elected in British North America.5 During his time in office, he prioritized sanitation initiatives, saw the completion of the Atlantic Cable (which connected London and Victoria via the telegraph in 1866), and, unlike his brother, lent his enthusiastic support to the unification of Vancouver Island and British Columbia.6 After finishing his term as mayor, Lumley served on the Board of Education for Vancouver Island and was generally active in his community until he returned to San Francisco where he passed away in August 1873.7
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