Arthur Cohen

Who was Arthur Cohen?

Arthur Cohen KC was an English barrister and Liberal Party politician.

After three years' study at the gymnasium in Frankfort-on-the-Main, he entered as a student at University College London. Thence he proceeded to Cambridge University at a time when it was almost impossible for a Jew to gain admission into the colleges. At length he was received into Magdalene College, Cambridge. In 1852 he was elected president of the Cambridge Union Society. At Cambridge Cohen had a successful career, coming out fifth wrangler in the mathematical tripos; but he was prevented from taking his degree till after the repeal of the Test Act in 1871. He became the first practising Jew to graduate from Cambridge.

Cohen then read law; and five years after he had been called to the bar, he established for himself a reputation in shipping and insurance cases. Among several important appointments was his selection to represent the interests of England in the famous arbitration case connected with the "CSS Alabama" at Geneva in 1872. Returning to England after the completion of the case, Cohen in 1874 unsuccessfully contested Lewes in the Liberal interest.