Sampson Simson
Encyclopedia
Sampson Simson was an American
philanthropist
most remembered as "the father of Mount Sinai Hospital
" and as benefactor, posthumously, to the North American Relief Society for Indigent Jews in Jerusalem, Palestine.
. He studied under Aaron Burr
, attended Columbia University
in New York City
, and graduated in 1800 with a degree in law
, becoming one of the first Jewish lawyers in New York City.
After a few years practice, however, Simson abandoned his law career and retired to his Yonkers farm to devote himself to charitable work
. Described as a very pious man with a "New England conscience", a combination of a "public-spirited citizen" and "conformist Jew", Simson received great pleasure from his charitable contributions, be they to a Catholic church
, a Protestant church
or a synagogue
.
From 1825 until 1832, Simson served as Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite
of Freemasonry
(Northern Jurisdiction).
In 1852, Simson, along with eight other men representing various Hebrew charitable organizations, came together to establish the "Jew's Hospital", the institution that eventually (in 1866) became Mount Sinai Hospital. Its location, West 28th Street between 7th
and 8th Avenues in New York City, was on land donated by Simson; he served the first President of its Board of Directors and personally assumed many of the young hospital's financial burdens. "The Jew's Hospital" opened two years before his death.
That same year, Simson joined Samuel Myer Isaacs and Adolphus Simeon Solomons to help found the Beth Hamedrash Hagadol
.
decided that the sum, plus thirty years' interest, was to be paid to the North American Relief Society for Indigent Jews in Jerusalem.
Mount Sinai Hospital was recently ranked as one of the best hospitals in the United States by U.S. News & World Report
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
most remembered as "the father of Mount Sinai Hospital
Mount Sinai Hospital, New York
Mount Sinai Hospital, founded in 1852, is one of the oldest and largest teaching hospitals in the United States. In 2011-2012, Mount Sinai Hospital was ranked as one of America's best hospitals by U.S...
" and as benefactor, posthumously, to the North American Relief Society for Indigent Jews in Jerusalem, Palestine.
Biography
Simson was born in Danbury, ConnecticutDanbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
. He studied under Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
, attended Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and graduated in 1800 with a degree in law
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, becoming one of the first Jewish lawyers in New York City.
After a few years practice, however, Simson abandoned his law career and retired to his Yonkers farm to devote himself to charitable work
Charity (practice)
The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need who are not related to the giver.- Etymology :The word "charity" entered the English language through the Old French word "charité" which was derived from the Latin "caritas".Originally in Latin the word caritas meant...
. Described as a very pious man with a "New England conscience", a combination of a "public-spirited citizen" and "conformist Jew", Simson received great pleasure from his charitable contributions, be they to a Catholic church
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
, a Protestant church
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
or a synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
.
From 1825 until 1832, Simson served as Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite
Scottish Rite
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry , commonly known as simply the Scottish Rite, is one of several Rites of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry...
of Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
(Northern Jurisdiction).
In 1852, Simson, along with eight other men representing various Hebrew charitable organizations, came together to establish the "Jew's Hospital", the institution that eventually (in 1866) became Mount Sinai Hospital. Its location, West 28th Street between 7th
Seventh Avenue (Manhattan)
Seventh Avenue, known as Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard north of Central Park, is a thoroughfare on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It is southbound below Central Park and a two-way street north of the park....
and 8th Avenues in New York City, was on land donated by Simson; he served the first President of its Board of Directors and personally assumed many of the young hospital's financial burdens. "The Jew's Hospital" opened two years before his death.
That same year, Simson joined Samuel Myer Isaacs and Adolphus Simeon Solomons to help found the Beth Hamedrash Hagadol
Beth Hamedrash Hagadol
Beth Hamedrash Hagadol is an Orthodox Jewish congregation that for over 120 years was located in a historic synagogue building at 60–64 Norfolk Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City...
.
Legacy
Simson's estate bequeathed large sums of money to Jewish and general institutions, including $50,000 that, after the death of a nephew, should be paid "to any responsible corporation in this city whose permanent fund is established by its charter for the purpose of ameliorating the condition of the Jews in Jerusalem, Palestine." In 1888, the New York State Supreme CourtNew York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
decided that the sum, plus thirty years' interest, was to be paid to the North American Relief Society for Indigent Jews in Jerusalem.
Mount Sinai Hospital was recently ranked as one of the best hospitals in the United States by U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
.