Isaac Pinto

Isaac Pinto (1720–1791) was a Jew, who emigrated to the Province of New York when he was 20. When he arrived in the States, he became a member of Congregation Shearith Israel, the oldest Jewish congregation in America. At the time, Shearith Israel was the only synagogue in New York. Pinto became a crucial figure in the colonial history of the United States. Pinto prepared the first siddur, or Jewish prayerbook, published in America, which was also the first English translation of a siddur. He saw the inability of colonial Jews to read Hebrew and the need for a readable siddur.

Pinto was deeply involved in the relevant political problems of colonial America. He wrote many articles that promoted independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain, which gave him influence in the debate about Independence. This influence resulted in Pinto signing a non-importation agreement in 1770. His ability to speak many languages allowed Pinto to serve as one of the first official translators hired by the United States government in 1781 under authorization of the Continental Congress, working in the Department of Foreign Affairs, the predecessor to the United States Department of State. He was also friends with Ezra Stiles, the seventh President of Yale College. Pinto also published numerous articles in the New York Journal, focusing on the concepts of American sovereignty and self-reliance.