A son of Lyon Marks ( – ) and Mistress Marks (ca1783 – 5 February 1857), he and his brother Solomon Lyon Marks migrated from London to South Australia on the Abberton, arriving in December 1846, and was a successful importer and merchant in Adelaide and Burra.
He was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly, representing The Burra and Clare from March 1857 to August 1858, when he resigned in order to make a trip to Europe. On his return he continued his business, but did not stand for re-election. He spent some time alternating between New Zealand and Melbourne.
He and his family left for New Zealand to live, and were resident in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1883, then returned to Australia, living in Albert Park, Victoria, where he died on Saturday, 4 March 1893.
Marks married Leah Solomon (ca1832 – 9 August 1908), sister of Judah Moss Solomon, on 30 January 1850. Their children were
Henry Morris "Harry" Marks (9 October 1856 – 14 February 1909) married Amelia Francis Cohen on 19 December 1883, died at Heidelberg, Victoria
second son Sidney Algernon Marks (ca5 May 1858 – ) married Blanche Rosetta Woolf on 19 October 1898
Frederick M. "Fred" Marks (16 September 1859 – )
Albert M. Marks ( – ) married Elizabeth Cohen on 22 September 1886, lived Wellington, New Zealand
Marcus "Mark" Marks ( – ) of Wellington, New Zealand
Louis Marks ( – ) of Brisbane
Lionel Marks ( – )
Mistress
A. Phillips ( – ) of Albert Park
Mistress B. Lyons ( – ) of South Yarra
Fanny or Fannie Marks ( – ) of Wellington, New Zealand.
He was, in 1848, a member of the consortium (with Burnet Nathan, Louis Hart, Joseph Hart, and Samuel Hart) who purchased from George Morphett land on Rundle Street for the first Synagogue (consecrated 3 September 1850).
