Meyer Löw Schomberg
Encyclopedia
Meyer Löw Schomberg was a German-Jewish physician who moved to London and had a successful business there.
degree in 1710, Meyer had practises in Schweinsberg, Blankenstein
, and then Metz
, but then moved to London and settled there in 1721. His first employment in London was a salary of £30 a year from the wardens of the Great Synagogue
to look after the poor. The Royal College of Physicians
admitted him as a licentiate on 19 March 1722 (giving his word and his bond, he was allowed to put off paying the £20 fee for that honour), on 12 January 1726 he became a fellow of the Royal Society, and finally in 1730 he was admitted to the freemasons' lodge at the Swan and Rummer, Finch Lane (serving as its grand steward
in 1734).
By 1740 his professional income was said to be 4000 guineas a year, having established a successful practice (Sir William Browne attributed this to his offers of friendship and hospitality to young surgeons). He was, however, greatly envious of his contemporary, Jacob de Castro Sarmento
, making a failed attempt to sabotage Sarmento's election to the Royal Society in 1729 by blackening his name, and in 1738 publicly denounced Sarmento's prescription of an opiate to Benjamin Mendes da Costa, one of Schomberg's former patients, in Janneway's Coffee House. Sarmento complained of the latter event to the censors of the Royal College of Physicians, but their fine of £4 against Schomberg for breaching their moral statutes only led Meyer embarking on a feud against the College via his son Isaac
. Becoming alienated from London's Jewish community in general and Sarmento and his allies in particular (explained in Schomberg's unpublished 1746 essay, Emunat omen, or ‘A physician's faith’, written in classical Hebrew, and involving his conversion to deism
), he also got increasingly entangled in one expensive lawsuit after another. He also rejected the Jewish community by - after 1742 - encouraging his sons to become Anglican Christians
if that would aid them in the liberal professions for which he had had them educated.
On his death, Meyer was buried in Hackney churchyard.
Life
His father, Löw Schomberg, was a physician in Meyer's birthplace and Meyer (probably Löw's eldest son) followed his father's trade, studying classics, then (like his brothers, Salomon, Hertz, and Gerson) medicine, at the University of Giessen. Completing his MDDoctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
degree in 1710, Meyer had practises in Schweinsberg, Blankenstein
Blankenstein
Blankenstein is a municipality in the district Saale-Orla-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.Blankenstein is also a quarter of the city Hattingen....
, and then Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
, but then moved to London and settled there in 1721. His first employment in London was a salary of £30 a year from the wardens of the Great Synagogue
Great Synagogue of London
The Great Synagogue of London was, for centuries, the centre of Ashkenazi synagogue and Jewish life in London. It was destroyed during World War II, in the Blitz.-History:...
to look after the poor. The Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
admitted him as a licentiate on 19 March 1722 (giving his word and his bond, he was allowed to put off paying the £20 fee for that honour), on 12 January 1726 he became a fellow of the Royal Society, and finally in 1730 he was admitted to the freemasons' lodge at the Swan and Rummer, Finch Lane (serving as its grand steward
Grand Steward
The is an official within the Imperial Household Agency of Japan. He is the senior official of the Imperial Household, and is responsible for managing the part of the household staff who are omote, or "outside the house"; these employees serve as drivers, cooks, gardeners, or administrative...
in 1734).
By 1740 his professional income was said to be 4000 guineas a year, having established a successful practice (Sir William Browne attributed this to his offers of friendship and hospitality to young surgeons). He was, however, greatly envious of his contemporary, Jacob de Castro Sarmento
Jacob de Castro Sarmento
Jacob de Castro Sarmento was a Portuguese physician, naturalist, poet and Deist....
, making a failed attempt to sabotage Sarmento's election to the Royal Society in 1729 by blackening his name, and in 1738 publicly denounced Sarmento's prescription of an opiate to Benjamin Mendes da Costa, one of Schomberg's former patients, in Janneway's Coffee House. Sarmento complained of the latter event to the censors of the Royal College of Physicians, but their fine of £4 against Schomberg for breaching their moral statutes only led Meyer embarking on a feud against the College via his son Isaac
Isaac Schomberg
Captain Isaac Schomberg was a highly controversial officer of the British Royal Navy whose constant disputes with senior officers resulted in courts-martial, lawsuits and the eventual stagnation of his career...
. Becoming alienated from London's Jewish community in general and Sarmento and his allies in particular (explained in Schomberg's unpublished 1746 essay, Emunat omen, or ‘A physician's faith’, written in classical Hebrew, and involving his conversion to deism
Deism
Deism in religious philosophy is the belief that reason and observation of the natural world, without the need for organized religion, can determine that the universe is the product of an all-powerful creator. According to deists, the creator does not intervene in human affairs or suspend the...
), he also got increasingly entangled in one expensive lawsuit after another. He also rejected the Jewish community by - after 1742 - encouraging his sons to become Anglican Christians
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
if that would aid them in the liberal professions for which he had had them educated.
On his death, Meyer was buried in Hackney churchyard.
Family
Schomberg had at least seven sons and one daughter:- Isaac, physician, with Alexander left all but 3s. of their father's estate in his will http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/24823/?back=,24817,24826
- Ralph or RaphaelRalph SchombergRalph or Raphael Schomberg was a British doctor of the 18th century.His father, Meyer Löw Schomberg, was a Jewish doctor who settled in England, but he became alienated from Judaism and had Ralph and his brothers, who had initially been brought up as Jews, attend St Paul's School, London, and then...
, Isaac's twin, physician and public notary, left 1s. in his father's will http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/24827/?back=,24817,24826&_fromAuth=1 - Joel, physician, practising in Metz and ThannThannThann is the name of:* Arrondissement of Thann** Thann, Haut-Rhin** Bitschwiller-lès-Thann* Thann , a Katastralgemeinde in Niederösterreich, Austria* Thann , a Katastralgemeinde in Niederösterreich, Austria...
. - Moses (1720–1779), public notary http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/24826/?back=,24817
- Solomon (1724–1774), public notary, left 1s. in his father's will
- Rebecca (1719–1742), died young.http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/24826/?back=,24817
- AlexanderAlexander SchombergCaptain Sir Alexander Schomberg was an 18th century Royal Navy officer.-Life:His father, Meyer Löw Schomberg , was a German-Jewish doctor and settled in England c. 1720 and set up a flourishing practice in Fenchurch Street, London...
(1720–1804), Royal Navy captain, with Isaac left all but 3s. of their father's estate in his will - Henry Schomberg, purchased an army commission, reached the rank of lieutenant-colonel, left 1s. in his father's will
External links
- http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/24826/?back=,24817 Oxford DNB article