The Samson brothers were from a wealthy London family of English Jewry. Lionel received a grant of 4696 acres on the Upper Swan near Henley Brook. On 5 September 1829, Lionel purchased Fremantle Town Lots 27 and 28 at the first land sale (now the location of Phillimore Street). He also had Fremantle Town Lots 53 and 54 in 1833. Fremantle Lot Sub O also in 1833 and Perth Lot L2 in 1830. His brother William was appointed Government Auctioneer for no specific term and this passed to Lionel in 1835, and then to the firm of Lionel Samson and Son. This appointment terminated in 1900. The spirit licence was issued to Lionel Samson and has been renewed since its introduction. Lionel also held the position of Postmaster of Fremantle until 1832. In 1839 Lionel moved to Perth Town Lot 1, on the corner of Barrack Sts and St George's Terrace leaving his brother William in charge at Fremantle. Lionel returned to England and whilst there married Fanny Levi in 1842. Members of the Levi family returned with Lionel and Fanny and they moved onto Adelaide where they settled in 1843. Lionel continued to trade in Perth, but returned his operations to Fremantle in 1852. In 1853 Lionel was elected Chairman of the first Western Australian Chamber of Commerce. Michael Samson, his eldest son, moved from Perth to an area on the De Grey River that was named Port Samson in his honour and declared a town site in 1902. Lionel formed a partnership with him in 1867 and the company became known as Lionel Samson and Son. Lionel's younger son William joined the company in 1877, one year before his father died. Lionel died 15 March 1878 at Fremantle. The Samson family of Fanny and her six children continued to run the company expanding the wine and spirits section to represent many leading wine and spirit merchants. Fanny died at Fremantle on 6 May 1888.