He was born in London after his family emigrated there after the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. Soon after, they moved to a small town in southwestern France, Saint-Esprit (today, a district of Bayonne). After a short time, the family moved to Bordeaux, where Furtado was raised and educated.
He was born in London after his family relocated there following the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. Shortly thereafter, they settled in a small town in southwestern France, Saint-Esprit (now part of Bayonne). After a brief period, the family moved to Bordeaux, where Furtado was reared and educated.