Weizmann served as the first President of Israel from 1949 to 1952.

• He was known as a major Zionist leader, and for convincing the US government to recognize the newly formed state of Israel.

• Following the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939, Weizmann sent a letter to Neville Chamberlain stating, "I wish to confirm in the most explicit manner... that the Jews stand by Great Britain and will fight on the side of the democracies."