WOLF, LUCIEN:

By: Joseph Jacobs

English journalist and Anglo-Jewish historian; born in London Jan. 20, 1857. He began his journalistic career at a very early age on "The Jewish World," which he joined in 1874, and was principal leader-writer for that journal until 1893. He was assistant editor of the daily "Public Leader" in his twentieth year, and after other journalistic experience became foreign subeditor and leader-writer of the "Daily Graphic" in 1890, a position which he still (1905) holds. He is a fellow of the Institute of Journalists, and has held honorary positions in connection with it. For four years (1893-97) he was London correspondent of "Le Journal" of Paris. Wolf is one of the best-informed English writers on foreign politics, and for many years his articles signed "Diplomaticus" on that subject in the "Fortnightly Review" were one of the characteristic features of the magazine. In 1905 some communications by him to the London "Times" on Russian finance attracted international comment, and evoked the unique compliment of a disclaimer by the Russian Minister of Finance.

Wolf has shown a strong interest in Anglo-Jewish history. He was intimately connected with the Anglo-Jewish Historical Exhibition, compiling the official catalogue and the "Bibliotheca Anglo-Judaica," a bibliography of Anglo-Jewish history, both in collaboration with Joseph Jacobs. He suggested the Jewish Historical Society of England, and became its first president, in addition to editing for it the volume devoted to "Manasseh ben Israel's Mission to Oliver Cromwell" (London, 1901). He has devoted considerable attention to Anglo-Jewish pedigrees, of which he has made large collections, and wrote "Sir Moses Montefiore," a centennial biography (1885). He also contributed important articles on "Anti-Semitism" and "Zionism" to the "Encyclopædia Britannica," and on the latter subject wrote adversely in controversy with Israel Zangwill, with whom, however, he joined forces in 1905 for the Jewish Territorial Organization.

J.