HO 144/3711 and HO 334/98/11321

            Albert Isaac Franses was born in Salonika on December 23, 1899 to Isaac Moise Franses (who was deceased by the time of Albert’s first application in 1922) and Esther Isaac Franses, née Esther Saporta. His father was originally Dutch and subsequently Greek; this information was later amended to “Dutch.” His mother was originally Spanish and subsequently Greek; this information was later revised to Dutch. His two older brothers, Samuel Isaac Franses and Moise Isac [sic] Franses, were naturalized British subjects. His only sister was married and lived in England at the time of his application.

            Albert Isaac was educated in Salonika until age 11, and resumed learning in Paris. He visited England intermittently and then, in 1914, at the age of 14, he immigrated to England, where he attended the French Lycée at Buckingham Palace Road, until 1917. While living in England, he undertook short visits from time to time to France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Austria, on business and pleasure. He did not serve or engage in public service in England because he had been underage during the war.

            After graduating French Lycée in England, he obtained a position as clerk at the French Ministry of Munitions, Imperial Buildings, Kingsway, and later entered his mother’s business as a clerk at 36 Camomile Street. In 1920 he opened business on his own account, as a wholesale millinery Agent, at 16 Maddox Street, afterwards rented an office at 58 Berners Street. At the end of 1923 he rented a room at 74 Aldermanbury, where he carried on a similar business under his own name as a merchant and agent. His two brothers Samuel Isaac and Moise J. [sic] Franses carried on a separate business at the same address.

            The Home Office remarked that Albert Isaac appeared to be “in a very good way of business,” with annual profit averaging £1,000. All his sureties regarded him as “absolutely sound financially.” Albert Isaac’s addresses in London indicate a high economic status: Lanark Mansions, Goldhawk Road, Shepherds Bush (1914-1917); 123 Sudbourne Road, Brixton (1917-1918); 37 Leinster Gardens, Bayswater; 2 Granville Mansions, Shepherds Bush (1918); and 5 Granville Mansions, Shepherd’s Bush, London W12 (1918 and onward). He lived with his mother at the latter address and was single.

            Albert Isaac was duly registered with police as an alien. He told the Home Office that he was considered Ottoman until 1913, but when Salonika was annexed by the Greeks, he automatically became Greek. He was in possession of a Greek passport, issued in London on June 9, 1922. In his memorial, Albert Isaac described himself as of Greek nationality. The Home Office debated whether to have Albert Isaac list himself as Greek or of uncertain nationality. They ultimately directed him to list himself as of uncertain nationality, of Dutch parents, in order to “tally with” his brothers’ stated nationality.

            His referees included three insurance brokers, a solicitor clerk, and an accountant and manager of The Imperial and British Loan Company, most of whom he met through his family in a business context. He first applied for British citizenship in 1922 because he was “definitely established here and my sympathies are entirely with this country and its people,” and because he desired “to acquire the political rights as the right to vote.” His application was mislaid sometime in 1923 and was relocated at the end of the year. For this reason, he was not naturalized until 1924, by which time he had lived in England for a decade.

            Subfile 2 was destroyed. This file was originally classified until 2025.