COSTA, ISAAC DA

(1798–1860)

   Originating from a Sephardic Jew ish family, da Costa was converted in 1822 to Calvinism. He had studied law and arts and earned his doctor’s degree at the University of Leiden in 1821. Like his tutor Willem Bilderdijk, he became a fervent opponent of unbelief and revolution. He wrote numerous lengthy poems, many of which were inspired by Dutch national sen timent, on historical subjects. Da Costa, who edited several journals, also wrote historical and theological treatises. He was a member of the Protestant Reveil movement.