Jacques Paiva

Jacques Paiva was a Jewish diamond merchant who became one of the earliest Jewish settlers in Fort St. George (Madras).

Originally from Holland, Paiva settled in London where he practiced his trade. In 1684 he gained official permission from the English East India Company to travel to Madras in the company of "one man-servant, one Christian maid, and one Jewish servant to attend on his wife in his voyage to the port, he paying the charge of their transportation." After arriving in India, Paiva became one of the representatives of the Hebrew merchants in Madras. Through his good relations with the rulers, he acquired mines in the kingdom of Gloconda, neighboring Madras. Unfortunately, during his trip to the diamond mines in Golconda he became seriously ill and died at Fort St. George. He was buried in the cemetery at the Memorial Hall in Peddenaipetam. In the later period, his widow lived with Elihu Yale, the governor of Madras after which the Yale university was named.

Paiva’s will serve as a valuable source of information on the gem trade between England and India in the 17th century.