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147
JUAN BAUTISTA CAMBIASO (1820-1886)
opportunities and later continued onward to Santo Domingo, a country then ruled by the Haitians. Despite
this circumstance, both brothers chose to establish their permanent residence among the Dominicans; there
is no doubt that, once settled in Santo Domingo, they perfected their knowledge and skills in the field of
maritime trade, eventually founding a business establishment bearing their name.
The Records
Juan Bautista (Giambattista) Cambiaso Chiozzone was born on September 12, 1820, in Genoa, Italy. His
parents were Giacomo Cambiaso and Rosa Chiozzone, as recorded in his baptismal certificate, which reads
as follows: “Archdiocese of Genoa. Parish of Santa Maria delle Vigne. Excerpt from the birth and baptism
registries. In the record of birth and baptism entries for the year 1820, the following appears under No.
148: in the year of Our Lord 1820 and on the 12th day of September [...] a male child was born to Giacomo
Cambiaso (son of Giuseppe) and Rosa Chiozzone (daughter of Giovanni), legitimate spouses, to whom
baptism was provided on September 14 and the names Giuseppe Giambattista Giovanni were given to him.
Giambattista Chiozzone is the godfather and Girolama Chiozzone is the godmother. Issued on paper free of
revenue stamps for use […] In witness thereof: Parish of Santa Maria delle Vigne, on May 9, 1951, Fr. Carlo
Balbi.”
6
He had two siblings, Luis Francisco (Luigi Francesco) and Catalina (Caterina), of whom only the
former accompanied him on his journey to the Caribbean. Both decided to settle in Santo Domingo, where
they established families and left a considerable number of offspring. Juan Bautista married Isabel Sosa (or
Cotes), daughter of Juan Cotes and María Luisa Sosa. They fathered several children: Benita or Benedicta,
ancestor of the Ellis Cambiaso family; Santiago; Rita; Alberto Rodolfo; Rosa; and Luisa, who married and
left a long list of descendants.
7
The Cambiaso family members always maintained ties with their country
of origin; however, among their Dominican descendants, there were those who continued in the maritime
Details of the
sword used by the
First Officer of the
Navy, Admiral Juan
Bautista Cambiaso,
safeguarded by his
descendants, the
Porcella family.
© Giovanni Cavallaro