Selim Franklin

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	Selim Franklin was born in Liverpool, England in 1814 into an English-Jewish family. He was a son of Lewis Franklin, a Liverpool banker, and Miriam Abraham. Selim emigrated from England on the St. George in October 1849 to San Francisco for the California Gold Rush where he opened a store. During that time he became interested in Chess. In March 1858 three San Francisco chess clubs joined together to host the California Chess Congress: the Mechanic's Institute, the German Chess Club of San Francisco, and the Pioneer Chess Club. A committee of management was formed to take charge of the event and Selim Franklin was elected President of the Congress. Franklin went on to win the tournament and the first prize "of a costly gold watch". It was later written: A few months since, Mr. Salem [sic] Franklin, the winner of the first prize in the Tournament of 1858, and who is now residing in Victoria, V.I., paid us a visit. During his stay here he was daily at the Chess Room, and contested a number of games with our strongest players, the result giving him a slight advantage over all excepting Mr. Roberts, with whom the score was about even. Mr. Franklin's style is cautious and defensive. His motto seems to be 'slow and sure.' Indeed, his somewhat excessive slowness at times, furnishes his vanquished antagonists with an excuse, which certain great match-players have not hesitated to make use of when smarting under defeat. Following a fire in his very successful store in San Francisco, Selim Franklin moved to Victoria, British Columbia, in 1858 with his brother Lumley and established Franklin & Company, Auctioneers and Land Agents, at the foot of Yates Street. In 1859 Selim turned his attention to politics and in 1860 he was elected to the second Legislature Assembly of Vancouver Island. This triggered a tirade by fellow-electee Alfred Waddington who complained bitterly that Franklin was incapable of taking the oath of office "on the true faith of a Christian." Chief Justice David Cameron ended a lengthy debate with a legal ruling which cited precedents for oaths being taken by Jews, and other Non-Christians. Selim's political stands were not always popular, and he was vehemently opposed to the proposed Union of Vancouver Island and the mainland colony, believing that the Island would suffer. When the two colonies did combine in 1866 Selim resigned from the Legislature and moved back to San Francisco. That year his older brother Lumley was elected as the second mayor of Victoria. The brothers were founders and executive members of the Victoria Philharmonic Society. Both sang in musical performances. Selim achieved the title of Esquire and was a member of the Freemason lodge in Victoria. On April 29, 1864, Franklin became the Chairman of the Vancouver Island Exploring Committee which saw Robert Brown elected as the expedition leader. Franklin was assisted by George Cruickshank, another prominent Victoria businessman, whom the Cruickshank River and Canyon is named after near Comox Lake. Selim Franklin passed away in San Francisco in 1884. The Franklin River on Vancouver Island south of Port Alberni is named for him. Sources: Leonoff, Cyril Edel. Pioneers, Pedlars, and Prayer Shawls: The Jewish Communities in British Columbia and the Yukon. Sono Nis Press. Victoria, B.C. 1978. p. 166-167 and 201. Hilbert, John S. "California Chess, 1858 - 1859." http://www.chessdryad.com/articles/hilbert/index.htm top
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