The term useful Jew was used in various historical contexts, typically describing a Jewish person useful in implementing an official authorities' policy, sometimes by oppressing other Jews. * In 1744, Frederick II of Prussia introduced the practice of limiting Jewish population to a small number of the most wealthy families, known as protected Jews. The first-born son in such families inherited this privilege; other children were considered useless by the authorities and had an alternative to "either abstain from marriage or leave." * After the establishment of the Pale of Settlement in Imperial Russia, only useful Jews (Russian: полезные евреи), such as wealthy first guild merchants (Russian: купцы первой гильдии), persons who received higher education, cantonists after serving in