Isaiah White

Isaiah White (1826-1894) of Portilla y White and Portilla Hermanos y White

Isaiah White was born in the Forest of Dean on 11th June 1826, and was baptised in Littledean Parish Church. He was one of seven children born to George White and Alice Lewis. His father was a carpenter, and at the time of the 1841 census he and his family had moved to Maesteg, Glamorganshire. George's two eldest sons John and George were carpenters, but Thomas, William, Isaiah and Isaac all worked in the Maesteg Ironworks as Engineers. The only daughter Mary was at home.

Jacob Chivers, also born in the Forest of Dean, made his fortune after purchasing a lead mine near Cartegana in Spain, and then returned to Wales to purchase an ironworks near Kidwelly - the Cambrian Iron and Spelter Works - and became a major employer and benefactor. Perhaps inspired by such stories, and following the closure of the ironworks, Isaiah set sail for Spain c.1850. He became known as Isaias and eventually became a Spanish citizen. After a few years he appaears to have been in partnership with Adolfo Corvelo (Corveto?) in Seville. Together they ran a Shipping Company. Later White went into partnership with the Portilla family as Portilla y White with offices near Plaza de Armas.

c.1851 He married Maraquita (Maria) Luisa Mendez of Almaden and they had six children, one of whom, Isaias White Jr., became a key figure in the foundation of Seville Football Club, along with Portilla & White employees Hugh MacColl and Gilbert Reid Pollock.

The above information is condensed from the blog 'La vida y tiempos de Isaias White de Sevilla'

1864 Isaiah (Isaiah) White, Portilla and White, Engineers and Iron Shipbuilders, Seville, Spain.

1894 March 24th. Died in Seville, Spain.

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