Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (born December 25, 1745, and passed away on June 10, 1799) was a highly accomplished individual who excelled in various fields. He was a renowned fencer, an exceptionally talented violinist, and the conductor of Paris' leading symphony orchestra. Despite his prowess in fencing, which included surviving two assassination attempts and defending his city against the Austrian Army during the French Revolutionary War, he is most famous for being the first classical composer of African descent.
Often referred to as "The Black Mozart," this nickname is somewhat misleading as Saint-Georges actually predates Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart by over a decade. In addition to his musical and fencing achievements, he was also an excellent runner, pistol marksman, and would swim across the Seine river using only one arm for cardiovascular training.
At the age of 13, he was admitted to the prestigious Boëssière’s Academy of Fencing and Horsemanship. By the time he was 15, he was already besting his instructors in fencing duels. At 17, he was considered to possess "the greatest speed imaginable" and was deemed the finest fencer in France in 1762.
During the French Revolutionary Wars, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges was promoted from Captain to Colonel and took command of the "Legion de Saint-Georges," the first-ever all-black unit to serve in a European army. The unit was made up of soldiers from the French province of Saint-Domingue (modern-day Haiti). Notably, his second-in-command, Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, was known as "The Black Devil," a nickname earned through his own remarkable exploits. Be sure to learn more about him as well!
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