Isaac Henrique Sequeira Explained

Isaac Henrique Sequeira (1738-1816) was a Portuguese Sephardic Jewish doctor.

Early life

Sequeira was born in Lisbon, and educated at Bordeaux and Leiden.

Career

Sequeira served as physician extraordinary to the Portuguese Embassy at the Court of St James's in London, and honorary physician extraordinary to the Portuguese prince regent.^[1]

He was a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians (LCP) and practised medicine in Mark Lane.^[2]

Sequeira was painted in about 1775 by Thomas Gainsborough, one of his patients, and that oil painting now hangs in Madrid's Museo del Prado.^{[3] [4]}

Personal life

Sequeira married Esther d'Aguilar (1739-1791), the daughter of Baron Diego Pereira d'Aguilar. In Jews and Medicine: An Epic Saga, Frank Heynick describes him as "wealthy and pompous".^[1]

On 21 April 1814, his daughter Lydia died.^[5]

His descendants include Jane Sequeira, a British doctor married to the financier Jonathan Ruffer, who collects Spanish old masters and Gainsborough paintings.^{[3] [6]}

Notes and References

1. Book: Frank Heynick. Jews and Medicine: An Epic Saga. 5 February 2018. 2002. KTAV Publishing House, Inc.. 978-0-88125-773-1. 449.
2. Book: The Royal kalendar, or Complete and correct annual register [afterw.] The Royal kalendar and Court and city register. [2 eds.].. 5 February 2018. 1782. 122.
3. Web site: Reportaje - El salvador de los 'zurbarán'. 24 April 2011. 5 February 2018. El País.
4. Web site: Isaac Henrique Sequeira - The Collection - Museo Nacional del Prado. museodelprado.es. 5 February 2018.
5. News: Obituaries. 5 February 2018. The Gentleman's Magazine. 1814.
6. Web site: Zurbarans' trustees revealed by owner. The Northern Echo. 5 February 2018.