 Born in London, the son of Levy Salomons of St Mary Axe and Frant, Sussex and Matilda de Metz of Leyden (married in 1795), he followed his father into business in the City of London, where he was a successful banker.Salomons was one of the founders of the London and Westminster Bank (now the NatWest), and a member of the London Stock Exchange.In 1835 he was elected as sheriff of the City of London.