Louis Barnett Abrahams

Who was Louis Barnett Abrahams?

Louis Barnett Abrahams was the head master of the Jews' Free School, London; born at Swansea, South Wales, 1842. He was educated in the Jews' School at Manchester, whither his family had removed in 1845. In 1854 he was indentured to Moses Angel at the Jews' Free School, London, as a pupil-teacher, and in 1864 he was appointed principal instructor of English. For the next twenty years Abrahams had charge of nearly all the teaching staff of the boys' department of the school. In 1884 he was appointed vice-master. When, in December 1897, failing health compelled the retirement of Moses Angel, Abrahams was elected head master of the school, while Moses Angel became principal; on the death of the latter in September 1898, Abrahams succeeded him.

Abrahams was a graduate of the London University, and one of the founders of the Jewish Educational Board and of the Teachers' Training Committee.

On the establishment of the Jewish Record, in 1868, Abrahams acted as its first editor. He was also a frequent contributor to other Jewish periodicals.