Hon Vaiben Solomon

Vaiben Louis Solomon

13 May 1853

National Defence League

Former Member

Northern Territory

House of Assembly

18 April 1890

Vaiben Solomon was not only South Australia's only Jewish Premier, but also the State's most fleeting one. A diverse career as an entrepreneur was set aside for politics in 1890, when he moved to Adelaide to represent the Northern Territory in the Lower House. Solomon quickly made his mark on Parliament despite personal financial troubles, and served as Government Whip under both Playford and Downer. He became Leader of the Opposition in 1899, bringing down the Kingston government over the Premier's proposal to give the vote to all householders and their wives.

Solomon became Premier at the end of 1899, but his leadership was over after one week after Frederick Holder voted for an adjournment of the House. Solomon was a delegate to the Australian Federation Convention in 1897 and also sat on the convention which framed the Australian Constitution. He was elected to Federal politics in 1901 but was defeated two years later, returning to the South Australian Parliament in 1905. He died in 1908 in Adelaide.

Member of the House of Representatives for South Australia 1901-03

20 October 1908