Youth and education Chevalier de Saint-Georges

1780 raynal , bonne map of guadeloupe, west indies

born in baillif, basse-terre, son of george bologne de saint-georges, wealthy planter on island of guadeloupe, , nanon, african slave. father, called de saint-georges after 1 of plantations in guadeloupe, commoner until 1757, when acquired title of gentilhomme ordinaire de la chambre du roi (gentleman of king’s chamber). misled roger de beauvoir’s 1840 romantic novel le chevalier de saint-georges, of biographers confused joseph’s father guillaume-pierre de boullogne, controller of finance, family ennobled in 15th century. led erroneous spelling of saint-georges’ family name boulogne , persisting day, in bnf, bibliothèque nationale de france.

detail passenger list of le bien- aimé showing st. georges , son, mulatto j h (joseph) landing in france on august 7, 1753

in 1753, father took joseph, aged seven, france education. 2 years later, on august 26, 1755, listed passengers on ship l’aimable rose, bologne de saint-georges , negresse nanon landed in bordeaux. in paris, reunited son joseph, moved spacious apartment @ 49 rue saint andré de arts.

joseph 13 when enrolled in tessier de la boëssière’s académie royale polytechnique des armes et de ‘l’équitation (fencing , horsemanship). according la boëssière fils, son of master: “at 15 [saint-georges’] progress rapid, beating best swordsmen, , @ 17 developed greatest speed imaginable.” still student when beat alexandre picard, fencing-master in rouen, had been mocking him boëssière s mulatto , in public. match, bet on heavily public divided partisans , opponents of slavery, important coup latter. father, proud of feat, rewarded joseph handsome horse , buggy. in 1766 on graduating academy, joseph made gendarme du roi (officer of king’s bodyguard) , chevalier. henceforth joseph bologne, adopting suffix of father, known chevalier de saint-georges .

in 1764 when, @ end of 7 years war george bologne returned guadeloupe after plantations, left joseph annuity of 8000 francs , adequate pension nanon remained son in paris. according friend, louise fusil: ... admired fencing , riding prowess, served model young sportsmen … formed court around him. fine dancer, saint-georges invited balls , welcomed in salons (and boudoirs) of highborn ladies. partial music of liaisons amour had real meaning… loved , loved. yet continued fence daily in various salles of paris. there met angelos, father , son, fencing masters london, mysterious chevalier d Éon, , teenage louis philippe ii, duke of orléans, of whom play role in future.