Portrait of Joseph Raphael, ca. 1852 / drawn by Charles Rodiusca. 1852

Joseph Raphael (1785-1853), a Jewish convict, was convicted of highway robbery and transported for life serving his sentence in Tasmania and Newcastle. He received a conditional pardon in 1818 and an absolute pardon in 1842. In 1819 Raphael opened a shop in Pitt Street, Sydney, where he sold calico, vinegar and tea. By 1827 his shop had moved to 92 George Street, though he still did business from a "moveable" shop. In 1830 he opened the Manchester Arms in George Street but by the end of the year he was insolvent. He was also declared insolvent in 1832, 1837 and 1843. Raphael was involved in a number of court cases concerning his business dealings and he was convicted of assaulting the Magistrate, Captain Brabyn, in 1830, receiving a three month sentence. In 1848 a Sydney newspaper described Raphael as "a gentleman well known in Sydney". He died on 26 September 1853.