Nathan Straus

Nathan Straus

Nathan Straus (sometimes Strauss) (1848–1931) was a German-American Jewish merchant and philanthropist. He and his brother Isidor brought their family crockery and glassware business to New York City, selling their merchandise in the R.H. Macy & Company department store. The brothers became partners in Macy's in 1888 and co-owners in 1896. They proceeded to develop the enterprise with great success. Nathan Straus also served as New York City Park Commissioner from 1889–1893.

While traveling in Europe, Nathan and Isidor and their wives decided to also visit Israel (then known as Palestine). An anecdote recalls that in 1912 Isidor grew bored of Israel and its strife, whereas Nathan was fascinated by the people and places they encountered throughout the land. Nathan and his wife decided to remain behind, while Isidor and his wife Ida planned to return to the US—via the ill-fated luxury oceanliner RMS Titanic. Isidor and Ida Straus were among the people who did not survive the ship's sinking.

Nathan believed he and his wife remained alive by some divine action. As a result, he devoted himself and much of his significant fortune to philanthropy throughout Israel. In recognition of his contributions, the modern Israeli city of Netanya, founded in 1927, was named in his honor.