Bethel Jacobs (1812–1869) was born in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, becoming a prominent member of Hull's Jewish community, and highly regarded in the Town's civic circles.[1][2][3][4] A successful silversmith and polymath who lived in a large house on George Street,[5] he was son of jeweller and synagogue president Israel Jacobs,[4] and son-in-law to Joseph Lyon,[6] president of the rival synagogue.[2] He married Esther Lyon in 1836, by whom he had 14 children.[1][6] He died of liver disease in 1869 age 57,[7][8] and was given a major public funeral.[1][9] Amongst many talented descendents,[1][2][6][10] his son Charles M. Jacobs constructed under-river tunnels in New York and Paris.[1][11][12]
After studying in Leipzig,[2] he returned to his father's town centre business, overseeing the silversmith and clockmaking workshop.[2] A capable inventor, musician, dramatist and speaker,[2][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] he was soon well-known for his silverware and shop in Whitefriargate,[1][21][22][23][24] for taking on public roles such as Governor of the Poor,[25][26][27][28][29] and for giving wide-ranging lectures.[15][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41] Jacobs became Master of the Humber masonic Lodge and a Town Councillor,[42][43] as well an influential synagogue president.[1][2][44][45][46][47][48]
President of Hull Literary & Philosophical Society,[49][2] and the Mechanics' Institute,[50][51] Jacobs led Hull's contribution to the 1851 Great Exhibition.[52][53] Drawing the 1853 Association for the Advancement of Science to Hull,[54][55][56] and after Victoria and Albert stayed at the (later Royal) Station Hotel in 1854,[57] he was made Jeweller and Silversmith to Her Majesty that year.[1][58][13][59]
A founder of the Hull Archers and later Lieutenant and Paymaster of Hull Volunteer Rifle Corps,[60][61][62] and president of Hull's Royal Institution, Jacobs established Hull of School Art in 1861.[63][1][64][65] In 1863 he erected in front of his shop the first of Hull's electric time balls; it was connected to Greenwich, and fell at noon, visible to shipping.[1][66]
Several of Jacobs' clocks are housed in museums.[1][67][68][69][70][71]
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Above the cornice in the centre, and in full view from the entrance, is clock, the gift Mr. Bethel Jacobs.