656 John Simon

Constituency : Dewsbury  1868-88

John was  the  first  MP  for  the  new  seat  of  Dewsbury.

John  was  a  Jew  born  in  Jamaica. He  was  educated  at  the  University  of  London. He  became  a  barrister. He  returned  to  Jamaica  for  a  time  but  his  wife  didn't  like  the  climate.

In  the  Commons  John  spoke  on  judicial  reform  and  the  plight  of  Russian  Jews. He  was  a  founder  of  the  Anglo-Jewish  Association.  He  was  knighted  in  1886.

John  stepped  down  through  ill  health  in  1888.

He  died  in  1897  aged  78.