In 1865, Dr Domingo de Montbrun (my Great Great Grandfather), his wife Emilia Otero de Montbrun and four children; Josefa, Pedro Luis (my Great Grandfather), Domingo Antonio and Carmen Luisa arrived in Trinidad and settled in what was the capital of Trinidad at that time, St Joseph. As far as I can determine from my research, in addition to Domingo's father, General Jose Leandro de Montbrun, he also left behind eight siblings - six sisters and two brothers; Pedro Luisa, Luisa Rafaela, Jose Maria, Maria Joasefa, Maria del Carmen, Luisa Laureana, Etelvina and Jose Leandro in Venezuela. His half-brother, Vicente de Montbrun Yllas and his family from his father's (General Jose Leandro de Montbrun) second marriage, may have also been in Trinidad at this time. I have never seen a reference to Dr Domingo's mother as being alive during my research into the period.

From St Joseph, Dr Domingo slowly began the process of rebuilding the medical practice he had left behind in his politically turbulent homeland of Venezuela, but now in the aristocratic British-ruled island of Trinidad. His effort to seemlessly fit in to the complex social fabric of the island in 1865 with it's British politics and wealthy French plantation owners, may have begun with his reverting to the original family name 'de Montbrun' as opposed to the common practice in Venezuela of dropping the 'de' and using 'Montbrun'. In Trinidad, as in many countries in Europe, the nobiliary particle 'de' before the surname was considered a sign of nobility. With names like 'de la Bastide', 'de Verteuil' and 'de Lapeyrouse' representing the 'crème de la crème' of the domineering wealthy aristocracy of Trinidad, it certainly would not have hurt his effort to rebuild his career by using his full name.

His next significant obstacle was the local arm of the British Medical board of Physicians; the body which governed the medical profession on the island, did not recognise his Venezuelan medical qualifications. He could not be referred to as 'Dr Domingo de Montbrun' or perform surgery at the Colonial Hospital in Port of Spain without this professional certification. But despite this lack of recognition, he would practice anyway, and as his fame and popularity grew, a special ordinance was passed by the Governor of the Colony of Trinidad entitling him to practice. In 1876 he became a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the first Venezuelan doctor to also qualify under British Medical certification.

As his medical practice flourished, his family blossomed; two more children arrived, in 1868, a son, Jose Leandro, and in 1869, a daughter, Louisa Antonia. The Venezuelan government in honor of the exceptional effort and popularity of this son of thier soil made him Consul to Venezuela (today's equivalent of Ambassador). The size of his family and his position as Consul to Venezuela facilitated a relocation from St Joseph to 22 Clarence Street (now Frederick Street) opposite to the Holy Ghost fathers' St Mary's College where his two eldest sons Pedro Luis and Domingo Antonio would attend in the growing town of Port of Spain. Brazil, Spain and Portugal also in recognition of his flourishing social status in Trinidad and his medical achievements appointed him as Consul for their interests on the island of Trinidad. The King of Portugal conferred the honor of Knight of Brazil. His title now became Dr Domingo de Montbrun KNT.

Despite the successes in his professional life in Trinidad and the status of his many appointments, he suffered calamitous losses beginning with the death in 1871 of his youngest daughter Louisa Antonia at the tender age of 2yrs and 2mths of bronchitis. Carmen Luisa, a daughter who occupied a special place in Dr. Domingo's heart, also died tragically in 1883 after an illness of only 16hrs at 18yrs of age. The official cause of death was tetanus. He watched over her, mournfully, as the poison consumed her and she passed from this world to the other, powerless to save her. It is noted that Dr. Domingo never recovered from the crushing loss of Carmen Luisa. The Gothic-themed de Montbrun family mausoleum in Lapeyrouse (now owned by the Battoo family of Trinidad) with it's thick metal skin, stained glass windows and memorial chapel was built by Dr Domingo in the memory of his Carmen Luisa.

Josepha, his eldest child married a well connected Venezuelan soldier, General Jose Maria Betancourt Sucre and she settled with her husband in Venezuela.   His two eldest sons, Domingo Antonio and his elder brother Pedro Luis (my Great Grandfather) both completed their certificates at St Mary's College and followed their father's lead into the Medical profession. At the ages of 19 & 20, both Domingo Antonio and Pedro Luis were shipped off to Ushaw College, Durham then proceeding to St. Charles College in England and eventually interning at St. Mary’s Hospital, London. Pedro Luis and Domingo Antonio returned to Trinidad as Medical Doctors in 1884 and began practicing as Government Medical Officers at the Colonial Hospital (now Port of Spain General Hospital).

Jose Leandro (Our generation's Great Grandfather), in 1885, now the baby of the family and the only child at 22 Clarence Street, Port of Spain showed much promise, with a sharp focused memory and a bright disposition, he was doted over by his parents.

Alan de Montbrun
ademontbrun@gmail.com