Abraham Capadoce

Abraham Capadoce (1795, Amsterdam&mdash;December 16, 1874, Amsterdam) was a Jewish convert to Christianity, a physician and a writer. His parents, who were Portuguese Jews, gave him an entirely secular education, wishing him to study medicine. After having completed his medical studies at the University of Leiden, he was adopted by his uncle, the well-known physician Immanuel Capadoce. In his uncle's house Abraham came in contact with Christians, and being animated with strong religious feelings without having been practically instructed in any religion, he was influenced by his surroundings, especially through Isaac da Costa, who persuaded him to become a Christian.

Among Capadoce's writings the most noteworthy are: (1) ''Aan Mijne Geloofsgenooten in de Ned. Hebr. Gem. The Hague, 1843; (2) Overdenkingen over Israel's Roeping en Toekomst, Amsterdam, 1843; (3) Rome en Jerusalem'', Utrecht, 1851.

As a physician Capadoce made himself known by his opposition to vaccination. A work of his on this subject, published at Amsterdam in 1823, provoked many polemics in the medical world.