Emanuel Mendes da Costa (5 June 1717 – 31 May 1791)[a] was an Englishbotanist, naturalist, philosopher, and collector of valuable notes and of manuscripts, and of anecdotes of the literati. Da Costa became infamous for embezzling funds while working at the Royal Society in London and was imprisoned.
Emanuel Mendes da Costa
FRS
Born
(1717-06-05)5 June 1717
Died
31 May 1791(1791-05-31) (aged 73)
London, England
Known for
British Conchology, embezzlement of Royal Society funds
Da Costa came from a Sephardi family that had moved to England in the 1600s from Portugal. His parents were Abraham and Esther (with the Christian names of John and Joanna). Abraham is thought to have been in the diamond business. A brother became a wealthy businessman but Emanuel worked in the office of a notary and qualified from the Scriveners' Company in 1762 but had taken an interest in natural history from around 1736. He began to trade in shells, corals and fossils and corresponded with Carl Linnaeus, Sir Hans Sloane and other naturalists of the period. Da Costa was elected one of the first Jewish Fellows of the Royal Society of London in 1747, sponsored by Martin Folkes, the Duke of Montagu, and others. In 1750 da Costa married a cousin, Leah, whose brother Abraham del Prado was a wealthy contractor for the English army, supplying food. Earlier around 1740 Abraham had employed da Costa in the Netherlands but this led to unpaid debts and resulted in da Costa's imprisonment for two years. In 1763 the death of Francis Hauksbee, who had served for forty years as clerk to the Royal Society, led to an opening that he bid for by enlisting the votes and endorsements from his friends and correspondents. He was appointed clerk, librarian and keeper of the repository and housekeeper of the Royal Society. In 1767 he was discovered to be withholding members' subscription fees, was convicted of fraud, and sentenced to five years in debtors' prison. The issue was detected when John Hope was listed as an annual instead of perpetual member and sought investigation. Da Costa would release the annual membership amount to the Royal Society but draw interest from the remainder of the life membership subscription. After release he struggled to make a living lecturing about fossils, and dealing in shells and minerals. His last scientific publication was British Conchology (1778) which included an autobiographical preface. Some friends remained loyal even after his imprisonment. These included Ingham Forster (1725–82) brother of Jacob Forster (1739-1806). Da Costa died in his home in the Strand and was buried in the Bethahaim Velho, 243 Mile End Road, London.[1][2][3]
Da Costa was also a fellow of the Antiquarian Society of London from 1752; a member of the Botanic Society in Florence (Società botanica fiorentina), the Aurelian Society, and the Gentleman's Society at Spalding. He was married twice, first to Leah who died in 1763 without issue. His second wife Elizabeth Skillman outlived him and they had a daughter.[1]
Worksedit
His publications included:
A Natural History of Fossils, 1757
Elements of Conchology, or An Introduction to the Knowledge of Shells, 1776 (illustrated by Peter Brown);
^ abWhitehead, P.J.P. (1977). "Emanuel Mendes da Costa (1717–91) and the Conchology, or natural history of shells". Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Historical Series. 6: 1–24. doi:10.5962/p.314510.
^James Grout: Da Costa and the Venus dione: The Obscenity of Shell Description
^Cantor, Geoffrey (2001). "The Rise and Fall of Emanuel Mendes da Costa: A Severe Case of 'The Philosophical Dropsy'?". The English Historical Review. 116 (467): 584–603. doi:10.1093/ehr/116.467.584. ISSN 0013-8266. JSTOR 579811. PMID 18711863.
Bibliographyedit
Jewish Encyclopedia
Rousseau, G. S.; Haycock, David (2000). "The Jew of Crane Court: Emanuel Mendes Da Costa (1717–91), Natural History and Natural Excess". History of Science. 38 (2): 127–170. Bibcode:2000HisSc..38..127R. doi:10.1177/007327530003800201. S2CID 161134195.</ref>
James Grout: Da Costa and the Venus dione: The Obscenity of Shell Description, part of the Encyclopædia Romana
Wikisource DNB entry
External linksedit
Emanual Mendes da Costa: the First Jewish Clerk of the Royal Society at Google Arts and Culture
emanuel, mendes, costa, june, 1717, 1791, english, botanist, naturalist, philosopher, collector, valuable, notes, manuscripts, anecdotes, literati, costa, became, infamous, embezzling, funds, while, working, royal, society, london, imprisoned, frsborn, 1717, j. Emanuel Mendes da Costa 5 June 1717 31 May 1791 a was an English botanist naturalist philosopher and collector of valuable notes and of manuscripts and of anecdotes of the literati Da Costa became infamous for embezzling funds while working at the Royal Society in London and was imprisoned Emanuel Mendes da CostaFRSBorn 1717 06 05 5 June 1717Died31 May 1791 1791 05 31 aged 73 London EnglandKnown forBritish Conchology embezzlement of Royal Society fundsSpousesLeah del Prado Elizabeth SkillmanChildrenOne daughter by second wifeParentsAbraham da Costa Christian name John father Esther da Costa Christian name Joanna mother Scientific careerFieldsBotanist naturalist philosopherInstitutionsClerk to the Royal Society Contents 1 Biography 2 Works 3 Notes 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksBiography editDa Costa came from a Sephardi family that had moved to England in the 1600s from Portugal His parents were Abraham and Esther with the Christian names of John and Joanna Abraham is thought to have been in the diamond business A brother became a wealthy businessman but Emanuel worked in the office of a notary and qualified from the Scriveners Company in 1762 but had taken an interest in natural history from around 1736 He began to trade in shells corals and fossils and corresponded with Carl Linnaeus Sir Hans Sloane and other naturalists of the period Da Costa was elected one of the first Jewish Fellows of the Royal Society of London in 1747 sponsored by Martin Folkes the Duke of Montagu and others In 1750 da Costa married a cousin Leah whose brother Abraham del Prado was a wealthy contractor for the English army supplying food Earlier around 1740 Abraham had employed da Costa in the Netherlands but this led to unpaid debts and resulted in da Costa s imprisonment for two years In 1763 the death of Francis Hauksbee who had served for forty years as clerk to the Royal Society led to an opening that he bid for by enlisting the votes and endorsements from his friends and correspondents He was appointed clerk librarian and keeper of the repository and housekeeper of the Royal Society In 1767 he was discovered to be withholding members subscription fees was convicted of fraud and sentenced to five years in debtors prison The issue was detected when John Hope was listed as an annual instead of perpetual member and sought investigation Da Costa would release the annual membership amount to the Royal Society but draw interest from the remainder of the life membership subscription After release he struggled to make a living lecturing about fossils and dealing in shells and minerals His last scientific publication was British Conchology 1778 which included an autobiographical preface Some friends remained loyal even after his imprisonment These included Ingham Forster 1725 82 brother of Jacob Forster 1739 1806 Da Costa died in his home in the Strand and was buried in the Bethahaim Velho 243 Mile End Road London 1 2 3 Da Costa was also a fellow of the Antiquarian Society of London from 1752 a member of the Botanic Society in Florence Societa botanica fiorentina the Aurelian Society and the Gentleman s Society at Spalding He was married twice first to Leah who died in 1763 without issue His second wife Elizabeth Skillman outlived him and they had a daughter 1 Works editHis publications included A Natural History of Fossils 1757 Elements of Conchology or An Introduction to the Knowledge of Shells 1776 illustrated by Peter Brown British Conchology 1778 several papers in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal SocietyNotes edit Also spelled Mendez da CostaReferences edit a b Whitehead P J P 1977 Emanuel Mendes da Costa 1717 91 and the Conchology or natural history of shells Bulletin of the British Museum Natural History Historical Series 6 1 24 doi 10 5962 p 314510 James Grout Da Costa and the Venus dione The Obscenity of Shell Description Cantor Geoffrey 2001 The Rise and Fall of Emanuel Mendes da Costa A Severe Case of The Philosophical Dropsy The English Historical Review 116 467 584 603 doi 10 1093 ehr 116 467 584 ISSN 0013 8266 JSTOR 579811 PMID 18711863 Bibliography editJewish Encyclopedia Rousseau G S Haycock David 2000 The Jew of Crane Court Emanuel Mendes Da Costa 1717 91 Natural History and Natural Excess History of Science 38 2 127 170 Bibcode 2000HisSc 38 127R doi 10 1177 007327530003800201 S2CID 161134195 lt ref gt James Grout Da Costa and theVenus dione The Obscenity of Shell Description part of the Encyclopaedia Romana Wikisource DNB entryExternal links editEmanual Mendes da Costa the First Jewish Clerk of the Royal Society at Google Arts and Culture Image held at London Metropolitan Archives https cityoflondon gov uk lma Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Emanuel Mendes da Costa amp oldid 1160425907, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
