Cover Image: Plaque honoring Joseph de Bologne
© Entrée to Black Paris

By Tom Reeves

On April 27, a ceremony to unveil a plaque in honor of Joseph de Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-George was held in front of the townhouse in which he lived in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. 

Dignitaries at the ceremony
© Entrée to Black Paris

Presiding over the ceremony were Jean-Pierre Lecoq (wearing tri-color sash), Mayor of the 6th arrondissement;  Claude Ribbe (speaking at lectern), Councilor of the 6th arrondissement; Manuel Valls (third from right), Minister of Overseas Territories; and George Pau-Langevin (far right), former Minister of Overseas Territories.  (We could not identify the other people in the photo.) 

Portrait of Monsieur de St. George by Mather Brown and William Ward
National Portrait Gallery, London
Image in public domain

Joseph de Bologne, born in Guadeloupe in 1745, was the son of an enslaved woman and a French nobleman.  Claude Ribbe, who has written a biography on his life, gave a speech about this extraordinarily talented man.  Ribbe expressed his hope that someday Paris would honor de Bologne with a statue.

Joseph de Bologne was an accomplished fencer (long before fencing became a recognized sport), a colonel in the Free Legion of Americans and the South, a musician, and a composer.  A sample of his musical compositions can be heard here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRBUA5rgaLs&list=RDEM7Zi_pSoaWj0XEFuyu339bw&start_radio=1.  (Music performed by the Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble.)

Orchestra of the Republican Guard
© Entrée to Black Paris

After the speeches, about two hundred people enjoyed listening to the orchestra of the Republican Guard playing musical compositions by Josephe de Bologne.

Plaque in honor of Joseph de Bologne
© Entrée to Black Paris

The plaque was unveiled, revealing the name Chevalier de Saint-George, by which Joseph de Bologne is remembered.

The townhouse upon which the plaque is affixed is located at 49 rue Saint-André des Arts.