James Finn

James Finn (13 July 1806 – 29 August 1872) was a British writer and Hebraist, who served as the British Consul in Jerusalem from 1846 to 1863.

Early life

Finn was born on 13 July 1806 in London to John William Fynn, a sailor, and Charlotte Fynn. His mother was an English Wesleyan Methodist, and his father was an Irish Catholic who had converted to Protestantism.

Educated at Clerkenwell parish school, Finn came to the attention of Earl of Clarendon who paid for his education. Finn was later appointed as a tutor to the Earl's youngest son.

Career

Interested in Judaism and Hebrew from an early age, Finn first visited a Synagogue in May 1832. During this visit to the Great Synagogue of London, Finn meet the Rabbi Solomon Hirschell. By 1837, Finn was looking for a publisher for his first book Sephardim; or, The history of the Jews in Spain and Portugal which was later published in 1841. On 15 January 1838, Finn married Louisa Fanny Stonham (1811–1841) at West Hackney Church. Following the death his wife and infant daughter in 1841, Finn's interest in Judaism intensified.

Finn became a regular visitor to the family home of Revd Alexander McCaul, an Irish Hebraist and missionary for the London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews.

Consular career

Finn was appointed the British Consul for Jerusalem in November 1845, with the role starting in 1846. Finn married Elizabeth Anne McCaul, a writer, translator and daughter of Alexander McCaul, on 2 January 1846 at St John on Bethnal Green. Following the marriage, the couple arrived in Jerusalem.