James Nathaniel Heredia

James Nathaniel Heredia (died 1975), known popularly as J. N. Heredia, was an Indian honorary counsel and advocate of the end of Portuguese rule in Goa and its smaller territories. A road in Mumbai, J. N. Heredia Marg, is named after him. In 1965, he was honoured as the Sheriff of Bombay.

Life Early and personal life James Nathaniel Heredia was born to a family of Goan businesspeople in Bombay. The family is originally from Divar, Goa. His father was Dr. Manoel Heredia, who started the Asian Life Assurance, an insurance company. This was later nationalised. The family also started a steamship service between Bombay and Goa.

As a diplomat Heredia was appointed as the honorary consul to Brazil, and remained so for the tenure of three Brazilian ambassadors to India. He resigned in 1954, when Brazil sided with Portugal regarding the freedom of Goa.

Death He died in 1975 of a heart attack. The Centre for Counselling at Sophia College for Women is named after him.