First Englishman in Goa

Street Scene in Goa. © NMM

One of the first Englishmen to live in Goa was the Jesuit priest, Father Thomas Stephens (1549-1619). He left Europe when he was 30 and spent the rest of his life in Goa.

Following Spain's invasion of Portugal in 1580, relations with England worsened.  In 1584, Spain and England were at war.  The Spanish king, Phillip II, attempted to invade England in 1588, but his great armada was defeated.

Thomas Stephens produced the first Konkani grammar