Juan Mateos
Juan Mateos | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Died | 1594 Gibraltar |
| Resting place | Parish church of St. Mary the Crowned (now theCathedral of St. Mary the Crowned) |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Occupation(s) | Merchant Innkeeper |
| Known for | Founding Gibraltar's first hospital |
Juan Mateos(?–1594) was a wealthy inhabitant ofGibraltarduring theSpanish period.He was remembered for being the founder of Gibraltar's first hospital, which subsequently became the oldSt Bernard's Hospital.
Early life
[edit]Juan Mateos was aSpanishinnkeeperfrom Gibraltar. He ran an inn at Albalate, in Gibraltar's municipal area, theCampo de Gibraltar.[1]In his youth he was active in defending Gibraltar against the 1540 raid of thecorsairsfrom theBarbary Coastand became famous when he took part in the resistance of one of their landings, killing one of theBerberleaders.[2][3]Mateos later took advantage of his reputation becoming a successfulmerchant,amassing a considerable amount of money.[3]He later became the official "Dispenser of Royal Licences",therefore having many opportunities to increase his fortune.[4]
Gibraltar's first hospital
[edit]
1- Puerta de España (nowLandport Gate)
2- Castillo (Moorish Castle)
3-Hospital de San Juan de Dios (the oldSt Bernard's Hospital)
4- Plaza Mayor (nowJohn Mackintosh Square)
5- Iglesia parroquial de Santa María la Coronada y San Bernardo (now theCathedral of St. Mary the Crowned)
6- Calle Real (nowMain Street
7- Puerta de África (nowSouthport Gates)
8- Muelle Viejo (Old Mole)
In 1567 Mateos suddenly changed his way of life by converting his large house in theUpper Town,on the slopes ofThe Rock,into a 20-bedinfirmary,and putting all his fortune towards running the hospital. It was the result of seeing the difficult situation of the poor sick people in the town, and also of the miserable sight of the many illsailorsthat arrived in Gibraltar after returning from theNew World(many of whom suffered from a virulent form ofsyphilis,a disease that had had its European outbreak just a century before with ineffective treatment). Mateos' spent almost nothing on himself wearing onlysackclothand eating frugally. He just retained a small room in his former house for himself. For twenty four years, Mateos devoted his time and personal services in support of the charitable institution he had founded. When his fortune was over and he run into debt, he began tobegasking foralmsto keep the hospital running. He became well known in thesurrounding countryside,with patients coming to him from far and wide.[4]Mateos eventually earned himself asaintlyreputation.
In 1591, theBishop of Cádiz,García de Haro,travelled to Gibraltar (which belonged to thediocese of Cádizat the time) to pay a visit to Mateos and his renowned foundation.[3][5]However, he found him so weak and tired "in consequence of much work and fasting"that he had to ask the"Orden de San Juan de Dios"(Spanish:Order of Saint John of God) fromGranada[3](a religious order devoted to the medical care or poor sickmen) to look after the hospital, which begun to be known as the Hospital de San Juan de Dios (Spanish:Hospital of St. John of God). Thefriarslater built a convent and a church close to the hospital. Mateos joined the order himself, maintaining his activities at the hospital, though to a lesser extent. He died three years later, in 1594. He was mourned by all Gibraltar locals and honoured withmassesand religious ceremonies for several days after his death. He was buried by the altar of the parish church of St. Mary the Crowned (now theCathedral of St. Mary the Crowned).[2]The hospital, however, did not disappear along with its founder but continued to not only serve Gibraltar's population, but also the sick for miles around.[5]This was to remain Gibraltar's main hospital until its move in 2005.
References
[edit]- ^Montero, Francisco María(1860).Historia de Gibraltar y su Campo(in Spanish).Cádiz:Imprenta de la Revista Médica. pp.278.
mateos.
- ^abBallesta Gómez, José Manuel (2003)."Personajes y otras personas en el Gibraltar cristiano (siglos XV y XVI)"(PDF).Almoraima(in Spanish) (29): 308. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2010-10-03.Retrieved2010-05-12.
- ^abcd(López de Ayala, 257)
- ^ab(Montegriffo, 552)
- ^ab(Montegriffo, 553)
Bibliography
[edit]- Dr. Cecil Montegriffo (19 August 1978)."History Of Medicine In Gibraltar".The British Medical Journal.2(6136): 552–555.doi:10.1136/bmj.2.6136.552.PMC1606962.PMID359087.
- López de Ayala, Ignacio(1782).Historia de Gibraltar(in Spanish). Antonio de Sancha. pp.256–258.
mateos.
- George Fromow (2007).The Legacy of Juan Mateos (documentary highlighting the origins of St Bernard's Hospital, based on historical facts)(DVD). Gibraltar: HighFlyer Production.
