Lousada (Of Peak House)

Name of a family that has held for many generations large possessions in Jamaica. A member of the family was created Duke de Lousada and Marquis di San Miniato. It is the only Jewish family that has held so exalted a title. Its members claim to be descendants of the original Spanish grandees of that name. Isaac de Lousada was confirmed, in 1848, in the titles that had been borne by his "ancestor" the Duke de Lousada, grand chamberlain to Charles III., King of the Two Sicilies. This monarch, when crowned King of Spain, created the duke a grandee of the first class. Isaac de Lousada died in 1857, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Emanuel, second duke (b. 1809; d. 1884). Emanuel was succeeded by his nephew, Horace Francis, the third and present (1904) duke, son of Count Francis (d. 1870), the second son of the first duke. Count Francis married Marianne, daughter of Sir Charles Wolsely; he was created Marquis di San Miniato by the Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1846. Following is a pedigree of the family:

Bibliography:

  * Debrett, Peerage, 1901, p. 928;
  * Isaac da Costa, Israel en de Volken, p. 465, Utrecht, 1876;
  * Burke, Landed Gentry, 1868, i. 900;
  * Rietstap, Armorial General, i. 101, Gouda, 1884.



J. H. Gut.