Juan Mateos
Encyclopedia
Juan Mateos was a wealthty inhabitant of Gibraltar
during the Spanish period. He was remembered for being the founder of Gibraltar's first hospital, which subsequently became the old St Bernard's Hospital
.
inn
keeper from Gibraltar. He run an inn in Albalate, in Gibraltar's municipal area, the Campo de Gibraltar
. In his youth he was active in defending Gibraltar against the 1540 raid of the corsairs from the Barbary Coast
and became famous when he took part in the resistance of one of their landings, killing one of the Berber leaders. Mateos later took advantage of his reputation becoming a successful merchant
, amassing a considerable amount of money. He later became the official "Dispenser of Royal Licences", therefore having many opportunities to increase his fortune.
, into a 20 bed infirmary, and putting all his fortune towards running the hospital. It was the result of seeing the difficult situation of the poor sick people in the town, and also of the miserable sight of the many ill sailor
s that arrived in Gibraltar after returning from the New World
(many of whom suffered from a virulent form of syphilis
, a disease that had had its European outbreak just a century before with ineffective treatment). Mateos' spent almost nothing on himself wearing only sackcloth and eating frugally. He just retained a small room in his former house for himself. For twenty four years, Mateos devoted his time and personal services in support of the charitable institution he had founded. When his fortune was over and he run into debt, he began to beg asking for alms
to keep the hospital running. He became well known in the surrounding countryside
, with patients coming to him from far and wide. Mateos eventually earned himself a saint
ly reputation.
In 1591, the Bishop of Cádiz, García de Haro, travelled to Gibraltar (which belonged to the diocese of Cádiz at the time) to pay a visit to Mateos and his renowned foundation. However, he found him so weak and tired "in consequence of much work and fasting" that he had to ask the "Orden de San Juan de Dios
" from Granada
(a religious order devoted to the medical care or poor sickmen) to look after the hospital, which begun to be known as the Hospital de San Juan de Dios . The friar
s later built a convent and a church close to the hospital. Mateos joined the order himself, maintianing his activities at the hospital, though to a lesser extent. He died three years later, in 1594. He was mourned by all Gibraltar locals and honoured with masses
and religious ceremonies for several days after his death. He was buried by the altar of the parish church of St. Mary the Crowned (now the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned
). The hospital, however, did not disappear along with its founder but continued to not only serve Gibraltar's population, but also the sick for miles around. This was to remain Gibraltar's main hospital until its move in 2005.
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
during the Spanish period. He was remembered for being the founder of Gibraltar's first hospital, which subsequently became the old St Bernard's Hospital
St Bernard's Hospital
St Bernard's Hospital is the only civilian general hospital in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar.-Juan Mateos:In 1567, during Gibraltar's Spanish period, a retired Spanish innkeeper by the name of Juan Mateos converted his house into a 20 bed hospital...
.
Early life
Juan Mateos was a SpanishSpanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
inn
INN
InterNetNews is a Usenet news server package, originally released by Rich Salz in 1991, and presented at the Summer 1992 USENIX conference in San Antonio, Texas...
keeper from Gibraltar. He run an inn in Albalate, in Gibraltar's municipal area, the Campo de Gibraltar
Campo de Gibraltar
The comarca of the Campo de Gibraltar is a comarca in the province of Cádiz, Spain, in the southwestern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia, the southernmost part of continental Western Europe...
. In his youth he was active in defending Gibraltar against the 1540 raid of the corsairs from the Barbary Coast
Barbary Coast
The Barbary Coast, or Barbary, was the term used by Europeans from the 16th until the 19th century to refer to much of the collective land of the Berber people. Today, the terms Maghreb and "Tamazgha" correspond roughly to "Barbary"...
and became famous when he took part in the resistance of one of their landings, killing one of the Berber leaders. Mateos later took advantage of his reputation becoming a successful merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
, amassing a considerable amount of money. He later became the official "Dispenser of Royal Licences", therefore having many opportunities to increase his fortune.
Gibraltar's first hospital
In 1567 Mateos suddenly changed his way of life by converting his large house in the Upper Town, on the slopes of The RockRock of Gibraltar
The Rock of Gibraltar is a monolithic limestone promontory located in Gibraltar, off the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is high...
, into a 20 bed infirmary, and putting all his fortune towards running the hospital. It was the result of seeing the difficult situation of the poor sick people in the town, and also of the miserable sight of the many ill sailor
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
s that arrived in Gibraltar after returning from the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
(many of whom suffered from a virulent form of syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
, a disease that had had its European outbreak just a century before with ineffective treatment). Mateos' spent almost nothing on himself wearing only sackcloth and eating frugally. He just retained a small room in his former house for himself. For twenty four years, Mateos devoted his time and personal services in support of the charitable institution he had founded. When his fortune was over and he run into debt, he began to beg asking for alms
Alms
Alms or almsgiving is a religious rite which, in general, involves giving materially to another as an act of religious virtue.It exists in a number of religions. In Philippine Regions, alms are given as charity to benefit the poor. In Buddhism, alms are given by lay people to monks and nuns to...
to keep the hospital running. He became well known in the surrounding countryside
Campo de Gibraltar
The comarca of the Campo de Gibraltar is a comarca in the province of Cádiz, Spain, in the southwestern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia, the southernmost part of continental Western Europe...
, with patients coming to him from far and wide. Mateos eventually earned himself a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
ly reputation.
In 1591, the Bishop of Cádiz, García de Haro, travelled to Gibraltar (which belonged to the diocese of Cádiz at the time) to pay a visit to Mateos and his renowned foundation. However, he found him so weak and tired "in consequence of much work and fasting" that he had to ask the "Orden de San Juan de Dios
Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God
The Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God are a Roman Catholic order founded in 1572. They are also known commonly as the Fatebenefratelli, meaning "Do-Good Brothers" in Italian.-History:...
" from Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
(a religious order devoted to the medical care or poor sickmen) to look after the hospital, which begun to be known as the Hospital de San Juan de Dios . The friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
s later built a convent and a church close to the hospital. Mateos joined the order himself, maintianing his activities at the hospital, though to a lesser extent. He died three years later, in 1594. He was mourned by all Gibraltar locals and honoured with masses
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
and religious ceremonies for several days after his death. He was buried by the altar of the parish church of St. Mary the Crowned (now the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned
Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned
The Cathedral of Saint Mary the Crowned is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Gibraltar. It is the primary centre of Catholic worship in the Diocese of Gibraltar.-15th Century:The original building of the current cathedral was built during the Spanish period...
). The hospital, however, did not disappear along with its founder but continued to not only serve Gibraltar's population, but also the sick for miles around. This was to remain Gibraltar's main hospital until its move in 2005.