Bethel Solomons facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bethel Solomons

Solomons in 1911 at the Rotunda Hospital
Birth name	Bethel Albert Herbert Solomons
Date of birth	(1885-02-27)27 February 1885
Place of birth	Dublin, Ireland
Date of death	11 September 1965(1965-09-11) (aged 80)
Place of death	Wandsworth, England
School	St. Andrews College, Dublin
University	Trinity College, Dublin
Occupation(s)	Doctor
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1908–10 Ireland 10 (0)

Bethel Albert Herbert Solomons (born February 27, 1885 – died September 11, 1965) was an important Irish person. He was a medical doctor and a great rugby player for the Irish national team. He also supported the 1916 Rising, a big event in Irish history. He came from a well-known Jewish family.

Early Life and Family

Bethel Solomons was born in Dublin, Ireland. His family was one of the oldest Jewish families in Ireland. They had moved to Ireland from England in 1824.

His father, Maurice Solomons, was an optician. His business was even mentioned in a famous book called Ulysses by James Joyce.

Bethel had several talented siblings:

• His older brother, Edwin, was a stockbroker. He was also an important member of the Jewish community in Dublin.
• His sister, Estella Solomons, was a well-known artist. She was part of Cumann na mBan, a women's organization during the 1916 Rising. She married a poet named Seamus O'Sullivan.
• His younger sister, Sophie, was a trained opera singer.

Rugby and Medical Career

Bethel Solomons went to St. Andrews School in Dublin. He loved rugby there. He played for the Irish national rugby team from 1908 to 1910. He played in 10 international games.

He studied medicine at Trinity College, Dublin and became a doctor. From 1926 to 1933, he was the Master of the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin. This hospital is famous for helping mothers and babies. His time there was even mentioned in another book by James Joyce, Finnegans Wake.

Later, in the late 1940s, he became the president of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI). This is a very important role for a doctor in Ireland. He had his own medical practice at 30 Lr. Baggot Street.

People described him as a "World famous obstetrician & gynaecologist." This means he was known around the world for his work with women's health and childbirth. He was also a rugby international, a horseman, and a leader in the Jewish community. He was even involved in the Irish literary and artistic scene.

Personal Life

In 1916, Bethel Solomons married Gertrude Levy in London. Their second son, Dr Michael Solomons, also became a distinguished doctor. He was a pioneer in family planning in Ireland.

Bethel was a friend of Arthur Griffith, who founded Sinn Féin. Sinn Féin is a major political party in Ireland. Solomons even helped Griffith buy a house.

He was also a founding member and the first president of the Liberal Synagogue in Dublin. This shows his dedication to his Jewish faith.

Solomons was also an art collector. He owned works by artists like Jean Cooke.

See also

• List of select Jewish rugby union players