Saint-Georges, Joseph Bologne, chevalier de, 1745-1799

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Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (b. Dec. 25, 1745, Baillif, Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe–d. June 10, 1799, Paris, France) was the son of planter George Bologne de Saint-Georges and Anne, a 16-year-old African slave. Saint-Georges's legitimacy was acknowledged since his father gave him his last name, Bologne. In 1753, his father took Joseph to France for his education and became a well known fencer, beating Alexandre Picard, a fencing-master, in Rouen. Upon graduation from the Royal Polytechnique Academy in 1766, Bologne was made an officer of the king’s bodyguard and a chevalier. He later returned to look after father's plantation in 1764 but relocated to Paris after his father's death.

It is not known about Saint-Georges musical training but he was a violinist, concertmaster, and director for François Gossec's orchestra, Le Concert des Amateurs. He became the director or the Paris Opéra in 1886. Saint-Georges composed several operas, symphonies, concertantes, chamber music, and vocal music.

In 1792, Saint George was appointed colonel of Légion nationale des Américains & du midi, a new delegation of free men of color, by Julien Raimond. During the French revolution he was imprisoned but released. In 1796, he accompanied his 15,000 troops to Saint-Domingue to abolish slavery after the slave revolt in Haiti.

Place Name Admin Code Country
Guadeloupe 00 GP
Republic of France 00 FR
Paris A8 FR
Subject
Armed Forces
Ballets
Concertos (Violin)
Music
Music
Music
Opera
Overtures
Violin and piano music
Occupation
Armed Forces
Composers, Black
Violinists
Activity

Person

Birth 1745-12-25

Death 1799-06-09

French

French

Information

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