Kitty da Costa | |
|---|---|
| Born | Catherine Rachel da Costa 1710 London |
| Died | 19 March 1747 |
| Nationality | British |
| Other names | Catherine da Costa, Catherine (Kitty) Villareal, Catherine Da Costa Villa Real, Kitty da Costa Villareal, Catherine (Kitty) Mellish |
| Spouse(s) | Joseph Isaac Villareal, William Mellish |
| Children | 4 including Charles Mellish |
| Parent(s) | Leonora Sara Mendes, Joseph da Costa |
Kitty da Costa (born Catherine Rachel da Costa; 1710–1747), also known by the names Kitty Villareal and Kitty Mellish after her marriages, was an English Sephardi Jew who converted to Christianity. She was sued by her suitor and first cousin Philip Jacob Mendes da Costa for breach of contract, in a court case which caused controversy at the time. She had four children, three of whom survived into adulthood.