ABSTRACT
PACIFICO, Don David 1784-1854. Gibraltar merchant. In 1847 Don Pacifico’s house was burnt down in a riot in Athens. The Greek government rejected his claim for compensation, and seized other real estate belonging to him. A British fleet was ordered by Palmerston, the prime minister, to sail into Piraeus harbour and compelled payment of the claim. In defending this celebrated action in the House of Commons, Palmerston declared stoutly that a British subject was entitled to protection whether he was a Jew or not.
