Saul+Solomon

Saul Solomon was a politician born in Saint Helena, who is closely associated with the Cape of Good Hope area of South Africa. He was born May 25th, 1817 and died October 16th, 1892. After working in the printing business, in 1854, Solomon became a member of the first Parliament of the Cape of Good Hope, the legislature for the Cape of Good Hope Providence that lasted until 1910. The selling point for Solomon’s entry was his political promise to never legislate laws that caused a distinctions of class, racial or ethnic background.

As a politician, Solomon made it clear he wanted independence and equality for the people of the Cape. He was one of the prime personnel for the Responsible Government Movement, a movement based around the idea of a self-governing colony rather than direct rule by the British. John Charles Molteno was Soloman’s right-hand man in the movement and after the movement was successful, he was appointed the Prime Minister of the Cape after Solomon refused the position himself. Afterwards, Solomon continued serving the people of Cape of Good Hope in multiple ways, such as repealing the Contagious Diseases Act, a discriminatory act that could arrest female prostitutes if she was “infected.”

After Soloman retired from Parliament, the effects of his term have been long lasting. His legacy spans into the First Parliament of the Cape of Good Hope and the Cape itself by pushing for independence and the equality of all. Also, many of Solomon’s extended family would go on and also get heavily involved with politics. For example, two of Solomon’s nephews, Sir Richard Solomon and Edward Philip Solomon, were greatly involved the Boer War.