Moses da Costa
Encyclopedia
Moses Mendes da Costa also called Anthony da Costa, was an 18th century English banker.
He was so successful as a banker, that he has sometimes been said to have been on the board of the Bank of England
; however, although he held shares in the bank, he was not in fact ever a director.
In 1727, he brought an action against the Russia Company, which refused to admit him to membership on the ground of him being a Jew
. The attorney-general decided that he must be admitted, whereupon the company petitioned Parliament to modify the former's charter so as to give it the right of refusal.
physician of King John IV of Portugal
.
Moses married his cousin Catherine Mendes in 1698. Catherine had been born in Somerset House
, and was named after Queen Catherine of Braganza
, wife of Charles II
, who graciously consented to stand sponsor to her. This Catherine da Costa is supposed to have made, in 1721, the water-colour portrait of her father which now hangs in the vestry of the Bevis Marks Synagogue
. Their children included Sarah (Simha) Mendes da Costa who married Ephraim Lópes Pereira d'Aguilar, 2nd Baron d'Aguilar.
He was so successful as a banker, that he has sometimes been said to have been on the board of the Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
; however, although he held shares in the bank, he was not in fact ever a director.
In 1727, he brought an action against the Russia Company, which refused to admit him to membership on the ground of him being a Jew
Sephardi Jews
Sephardi Jews is a general term referring to the descendants of the Jews who lived in the Iberian Peninsula before their expulsion in the Spanish Inquisition. It can also refer to those who use a Sephardic style of liturgy or would otherwise define themselves in terms of the Jewish customs and...
. The attorney-general decided that he must be admitted, whereupon the company petitioned Parliament to modify the former's charter so as to give it the right of refusal.
Background and family
He was the son of Jacob (Alvarez or Álvaro) da Costa, who is probably the da Costa referred to in the Thurlow Papers. Jacob da Costa arrived in England with his family in 1655. He married Leonora (Rachel) Mendes, sister of Fernandez (Fernando) Mendes, the MarranoMarrano
Marranos were Jews living in the Iberian peninsula who converted to Christianity rather than be expelled but continued to observe rabbinic Judaism in secret...
physician of King John IV of Portugal
John IV of Portugal
|-|John IV was the King of Portugal and the Algarves from 1640 to his death. He was the grandson of Catherine, Duchess of Braganza, who had in 1580 claimed the Portuguese crown and sparked the struggle for the throne of Portugal. John was nicknamed John the Restorer...
.
Moses married his cousin Catherine Mendes in 1698. Catherine had been born in Somerset House
Somerset House
Somerset House is a large building situated on the south side of the Strand in central London, England, overlooking the River Thames, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The central block of the Neoclassical building, the outstanding project of the architect Sir William Chambers, dates from 1776–96. It...
, and was named after Queen Catherine of Braganza
Catherine of Braganza
Catherine of Braganza was a Portuguese infanta and queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles II.She married the king in 1662...
, wife of Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
, who graciously consented to stand sponsor to her. This Catherine da Costa is supposed to have made, in 1721, the water-colour portrait of her father which now hangs in the vestry of the Bevis Marks Synagogue
Bevis Marks Synagogue
----Bevis Marks Synagogue is located off Bevis Marks, in the City of London. The synagogue, affiliated to London's historic Spanish and Portuguese Jewish community, is the oldest synagogue in the United Kingdom still in use...
. Their children included Sarah (Simha) Mendes da Costa who married Ephraim Lópes Pereira d'Aguilar, 2nd Baron d'Aguilar.