1. Michel Dragon known as Don Michael Dragon or Michael Dracos was a Greek merchant and lieutenant who served in the Spanish Army during the American Revolution, fighting with the Patriots for the independence of the United States of America.
27 Facts About Michel Dragon
1. 2.
Michel Dragon participated in the Gulf Coast Campaign, notably in the Battle of Baton Rouge, Battle of Fort Charlotte and in the Siege of Pensacola where he was in command of the provincial militia.
3.
Michel Dragon married a former slave of African descent and they had two children, one of them being Marianne Celeste Dragon.
4.
Michel Dragon briefly joined the French militia but then became part of the Spanish military when Spain took over New Orleans.
5.
Michel Dragon fought in the American Revolutionary for the Spanish.
6.
Michel Dragon belonged to Mr Charles Dapremont de La Lande, a member of the Superior Council.
7.
Michel Dragon was honored by King Charles III of Spain and given the rank of Lieutenant.
8.
Michel Dragon became a US citizen when Louisiana became part of the United States.
9.
Michel Dragon's family became one of the oldest and most influential Greek families in United States history.
10.
Michel Dragon was the first Greek American and first person of color to become a US Ambassador.
11.
Michel Dragon was actively involved in the unification of Italy and collaborated with Giuseppe Mazzini to form the first Italian government known as the Roman Republic.
12.
Michel Dragon later became affiliated with the Spanish military first as a second sergeant, then first sergeant, and finally as a lieutenant.
13.
Michel Dragon served for the Spanish military during the American Revolutionary War.
14.
Michel Dragon was part of the artillery division under Colonel Gilbert Antoine de St Maxent.
15.
Michel Dragon fought in the Battle of Baton Rouge, Battle of Fort Charlotte and gradually increased his rank to lieutenant in the Siege of Pensacola under Bernardo de Galvez.
16.
Michel Dragon was later honored by Charles III of Spain upon the recommendation of Baron Francisco Luis Hector de Carondelet.
17.
Michel Dragon continued his service to the Spanish military and Andres Almonaster y Rojas until New Orleans became part of the United States.
18.
Michel Dragon married a freed African slave named Marie Francoise Chauvin Beaulieu de Montplaisir.
19.
Michel Dragon married a Greek immigrant in 1799 named Andrea Dimitry.
20.
Marie and Michel Dragon were married on December 30,1815, at the Saint Louis Church, New Orleans.
21.
Michel Dragon was 76 and his wife was Marie Francoise was 59.
22.
Michel Dragon purchased a slave named Cyprion from a freed African American slave owner named Marguerite Monplaisir.
23.
Carlota was a female African American slave owned by Michel Dragon and purchased by a free African American named Francisco Monplaiser.
24.
Andrea Dimitry and Marianne Celeste Michel Dragon lived next door at 58 Rue de Chartres.
25.
Michel Dragon left a vast fortune to his daughter Marianne Celeste Dragon.
26.
Michel Dragon's family continued to flourish within the confines of New Orleans.
27.
Michel Dragon's grandchildren became very important members of the community in New Orleans.