Antonio Fernandez Carvajal

Antonio Fernandez Carvajal was a wealthy Portuguese merchant known as the first endenizened Jew in England who had an important role in reopening the England’s doors to the Jews, almost four centuries after their expulsion by King Edward I in 1290.

Carvajal was born at the end of the 16th century in the Portuguese town of Fundão. Escaping from the Portuguese Inquisition, he moved to the Canary Islands which offered a safe refuge for the Jews and a spot of business opportunities. There he acquired properties and valuable commercial connections which would be very useful in time known for political instability and frequent conflicts between Spain, England, and Holland.

In 1635 Carvajal had moved to England where he offered his wide network of commercial partners and employees to the English government headed by Oliver Cromwell, for obtaining military and political information from Spain and Holland. As a successful merchant, Carvajal owned a number of ships trading to the East and West Indies, to Brazil and to the Levant. He dealt with various kind of merchandise ranging from gunpowder, wine, hides, pictures, cochineal to corn and silver. He is reported to have brought to England around £100,000 worth of silver per annum.

When Manasseh ben Israel in 1655 petitioned for the return of the Jews who had been expelled by Edward I., Carvajal strongly supported that idea. Therefore, he may be considered the founder of the Anglo-Jewish community.