Don Pacifico

David Pacifico (1784–April 12, 1854) was of Portuguese Jewish descent and born in Gibraltar. He is best known to history as "Don Pacifico".

In 1850, Don Pacifico was a key figure in the international crisis known as the Don Pacifico Affair. In 1847, while he was living and working in the Greek capital, Athens, as the Portuguese consul, Don Pacifico's home was attacked and vandalised by an anti-Semitic mob that included the sons of a government minister, whilst police looked on and did nothing. Don Pacifico appealed to the Greek government for compensation for loss of possessions, including documents relating to a substantial claim against the Portuguese government for monies owed. When in 1848 it became clear that compensation would not be given, he appealed to the British.

Because Don Pacifico was born in Gibraltar and was therefore a British subject, then foreign minister Lord Palmerston decided on military action and despatched a squadron of the Royal Navy to blockade Piraeus, the port of Athens. After some eight weeks of blockade, the Greek government at last paid suitable compensation to Pacifico. When challenged in Parliament on this issue, Palmerston justified his actions with, "Civis Romanus sum": translated as "I am a Roman citizen", this declaration by a Roman would protect him from harm anywhere in the ancient Roman empire.

See also

• List of Gibraltarians

References

• Dictionary of National Biography, article Pacifico, David

Persondata
Name	Pacifico, Don
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1784
Place of birth
Date of death	1854
Place of death