Life and Work of David Ricardo (1772–1823)

Abstract

David Ricardo was born on April 18th, 1772 in London as the third child of Abraham Ricardo and Abigail Delvalle. Abraham lived until 1812, having been born in Amsterdam on March 11th, 1734. Abraham Ricardo was a stockbroker, just like his father Joseph Israel Ricardo (1699–1762). In the Spring of 1760, Abraham went to London as an agent for his father, and married there on April 30th, 1769. He was elected “Parnas”, or warden, of the Portuguese Jewish Community of London in 1785, 1789, 1793, 1798 and 1802, and was also a very successful stockbroker for this Community. David Ricardo’s grandfather, Joseph Israel Ricardo, had died in 1762 and was buried in Ouderkerk, the famous cemetery of the Portuguese Jewish Community, near Amsterdam. In 1721, he had married Hanna Abaz, a Christian lady who converted to Judaism (a “Gijoret”). In the municipal archives of Amsterdam, the father of Joseph Israel Ricardo is referred to as David Israel of Livorno. His brothers did not use the name Ricardo either, but just the name Israel, mostly “of Livorno”. Often the profession of “coral maker” is mentioned in the archives, but perhaps coral trader is meant. It seems probable that the Ricardos had left Spain for Livorno around 1650.