Vincent Alvares

Vicente Alvares (c. 1680 – 19 November 1738) was a Portuguese priest born in Belbatta, in the island of Chorão in 1680.^[1] He was a medical practitioner and chemist of John V of Portugal. In 1713, he accompanied the General of the Arraial of Ponda, Antonio do Amaral Sarmento, to Sunda in Kanara. He would supply medicines free of charge to all army men and auxiliaries in Salcette. After the death of his second wife, he entered the priesthood and died in Margão on the 19 November 1738.

Vicente Alvares
Born	c. 1680 Chorão, Goa, Portuguese India
Died	19 November 1738(1738-11-19) (aged 57–58) Margão, Goa, Portuguese India
Nationality	Portuguese
Occupations	Medical practitioner clergyman
Spouses	Joana Marcelina Correia ​ ​ (died)​ Úrsula Francisca Moniz ​ ​ (died)​
Children	5

Biography

Vincent Alvares was the son of Sr. António Rafael Álvares and Antónia Dias. He was the husband of Joana Marcelina Correia and Úrsula Francisca Moniz. He had five children, Manuel Caetano Alvares; Mariana Álvares; Maria Benedita Álvares; Ana Josefa Alvares e Barreto and Caetano José Álvares.^{[citation needed]}

Alvares was a medical practitioner and chemist of John V of Portugal. He was issued letter to practice by the chief physician of Goa.^[2] He accompanied the General of the Arraial of Ponda, Antonio do Amaral Sarmento to Sunda in Kanara in 1713 in Salsette supplying medicines free of charge to all army men and auxiliaries. After the death of his wife he entered the priesthood and died in Margão on 19 November 1738.^[3]

Family

Alvares was a descendant of Lourenço Alvares, a Brahmin from Querem who converted to Roman Catholicism. His son, Manuel Caetano Alvares, was the first and only Goan to be given capelo gratuito of the Faculty of Medicine by an order issued by King Joseph I of Portugal.^{[citation needed]}

Further reading

• The Island of Chorão (A Historical Sketch) By Francisco Xavier Gomes Catão, Mar Louis Memorial Press, Alwaye (1962)
• Health and Hygiene in Colonial Goa, 1510-1961 By Fatima da Silva Gracias (1994)