Isaac de Sequeira Samuda facts for kids

Isaac de Sequeira Samuda (born 1681, died 1729) was a British doctor and a talented poet. He came from a Portuguese-Jewish family and was the first person from his family to live in Britain. He made history by becoming the first Jewish person to be chosen as a member of the important Royal Society in 1727. He also gave a special speech at the funeral of Haham David Nieto in 1728.

Early Life and Escape

Isaac was the second son of Rodrigo de Sequeira, a Portuguese merchant, and his wife, Violante Nunes Rosa. He studied medicine at Coimbra University and finished his degree in 1702.

In 1703, Isaac and some family members were arrested. They were accused of secretly practicing Judaism by the Inquisition, a powerful religious court in Portugal. During a public trial called an auto da fé in Lisbon in 1704, he was forced to admit to these accusations. This was a very dangerous situation, as being found guilty again could mean the death penalty. Sadly, some of his family members faced very harsh punishments because of their faith.

To escape this danger, Isaac moved to London in 1709 with his mother, an uncle, and five aunts. They joined his older half-brother, Abraham de Almeida, who was already there. In London, Isaac joined the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue and changed his name to Ishac de Sequeira Samuda.

A Doctor and Scientist

In 1722, Samuda was allowed to practice medicine by the Royal College of Physicians in London. He was very interested in science and worked with the Royal Society, a famous group for scientists.

In 1723, he translated a report about a whale that got stuck in the Tagus river in Portugal. Because of his work, he was chosen to be a member of the Royal Society in June 1723. Important scientists like James Jurin and Sir Hans Sloane supported him.

He continued to share important scientific information. In 1724, he presented a paper about a yellow fever outbreak in Portugal. He also shared reports from a Portuguese astronomer, João Baptista Carbone, about observations of Jupiter's moons. These observations were used to help calculate longitudes, which is important for navigation.

A Gifted Poet

Isaac de Sequeira Samuda was also known for his poetry. In 1720, he wrote two poems in Portuguese for a book called Espejo fiel de la vida.

His most famous poem was "Viridiadas," written in 1724. It was a very long poem with 1,274 stanzas, divided into thirteen parts. The poem was about Viriatus, a brave leader who fought against the Roman Empire in ancient Hispania (modern-day Spain and Portugal). After Samuda died, another poet named Jacob de Castro Sarmento added more stanzas to the poem. The finished manuscript was given to King João V of Portugal.

Honoring a Great Rabbi

David Nieto (1654–1728) was the chief rabbi of the Bevis Marks Synagogue in London, which is the oldest synagogue in the United Kingdom. Samuda greatly admired Rabbi Nieto.

When Rabbi Nieto passed away, Samuda wrote a special message for his tombstone. He described Nieto as a "sublime theologian" (meaning a very wise religious scholar), a "man of profound wisdom," a "remarkable physician," a "famous astronomer," a "sweet poet," and a "fluent rhetorician" (someone who speaks very well).

Samuda also gave a sermon at Nieto's funeral, which was later printed. In his speech, Samuda said that Nieto was an excellent example for everyone to follow. He supported his ideas by quoting from religious texts and famous writers from ancient Greece and Rome. He also mentioned well-known scientists of his time, like Robert Boyle, Hermann Boerhaave, Willem 's Gravesande, and Isaac Newton.

Later Life

Isaac de Sequeira Samuda never married. He passed away on November 20, 1729, in London. He was buried in the Portuguese Jews' "Velho" (Old) Cemetery in Mile End Road, Stepney, which is also where Rabbi Nieto was buried.