GOLDSMID-STERN-SALOMONS, SIR DAVID LIONEL

GOLDSMID-STERN-SALOMONS, SIR DAVID LIONEL (1851–1925), British innovator in electronics and automobiles. He was born in London, the son of Philip Salomons (1796–1867) and the nephew of Sir David *Salomons; his mother was the daughter of Jacob *Montefiore. He was educated at Cambridge and, in 1873, succeeded his uncles as second baronet. Salomons was a barrister and a local government official, serving as mayor of Tunbridge Wells in 1895, but was wealthy enough to pursue full time his passion for mechanical and scientific research. This he did at his large private laboratory at his estate at Broomhill, Kent. Salomons took out numerous patents in the electrical field and was the author of Electric Light Installations, a textbook which went through many editions. He also served as vice president of the Institute of Electrical Engineers. He is best remembered, however, for his role as a pioneer of automobiles in England. In October 1895 he imported the second gasoline-driven car to appear in Britain, and he was responsible for removing many of the legal restrictions on the use of the motor car in England. He was also one of the founders of the Royal Automobile Club, the oldest British motoring body. He gained his triple surname in 1899 when he inherited a legacy from the relatives of his wife, a daughter of Hermann, Baron de *Stern, and added "Goldsmid-Stern" to his name.

bibliography:

odnb online.

[William D. Rubinstein (2^nd ed.)]