Aaron (Edward) Lopez

"Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKF-GXK6 : 30 May 2020), Aaron Lopez, 1782; Burial, , ; citing record ID , Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com. Businessman and Entrepreneur. Philanthropist. Jewish Religious Leader. Born Duarte (Edward) Lopez in Portugal, he came from a family of conversos. Upon coming to the Americas in 1752, he changed his name to Aaron and began to openly practice his Jewish faith. Lopez became a leading merchant and shipper in the English colonies, owning 30 transatlantic ships and over 100 coastal vessels. A leader in the business, philanthropic and cultural life of Newport, Rhode Island, he contributed to the founding of the Newport Public Library, donated land to the Leicester Academy in Massachusetts and helped build the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island (later relocated to Providence and renamed Brown University). He had his portrait painted by Gilbert Stuart, of whom he was an early patron. In 1761, on what many historians consider to be trivial and possibly religious grounds, he was denied naturalization as a citizen in Rhode Island. In 1762, Lopez became the first naturalized Jewish citizen of Massachusetts and returned to Newport. He was instrumental in the founding of Newport's Touro Synagogue, America's oldest synagogue, which is several blocks away from the cemetery where he rests.

Bio by: Librarian Jessie