Mendes I. Cohen

Description

Oil on canvas portrait painting of Mendes Israel Cohen (1796-1879), ca. 1835-1840, by an unknown artist. Cohen was born in Richmond, Virginia to a well-known Jewish family. They moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 1803 and increased their prominence and great wealth through business. During the War of 1812, Cohen and three of his brothers, Jacob, Philip, and Benjamin, joined the Maryland Militia. After a brief stint with the 27th Regiment, Cohen transferred to a volunteer artillery company, known as the "Baltimore Fencibles," and defended Fort McHenry from the British during the Battle of Baltimore. In 1825, he played a prominent role in defeating the prohibition of Jews holding political office in Maryland through legislation known as the "Jew Bill." Cohen himself went on to serve in politics with a term in the House of Delegates in 1847. In later years he traveled through Europe and the Middle East extensively. Cohen is buried in Baltimore Hebrew Cemetery.