Onorio Razzolini (1699-1769) was an Italian immigrant to colonial Maryland. He is thought to be the first immigrant of Italian descent to hold public office in the North American colonies. He enjoyed the patronage of

Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore, (29 September 1699 – 24 April 1751) was a British nobleman and Proprietary Governor of the Province of Maryland. He inherited the title to Maryland aged just fifteen, on the death of his father and gran ...

, proprietary governor of the

Province of Maryland The Province of Maryland was an English and later British colony in North America that existed from 1632 until 1776, when it joined the other twelve of the Thirteen Colonies in rebellion against Great Britain and became the U.S. state of Maryland ...

, serving as tutor to his illegitimate son, Benedict Swingate Calvert. After enjoying a successful career in Maryland, including serving as Armourer and Keeper of the Stores of Maryland, Razzolini returned to his native town of

Asolo Asolo () is a town and ''comune'' in the Veneto Region of northern Italy. It is known as "The Pearl of the province of Treviso", and also as "The City of a Hundred Horizons" for its mountain settings. History The town was originally a settlemen ...

, where he married and had three daughters.

Biography

Razzolini was born in

, a town located north of

Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...

, in around 1689. Benedict calvert 1754

Razzolini came from Italy shortly before 1732, as tutor to

Benedict Swingate Calvert Benedict Swingate Calvert (January 27, 1722 – January 9, 1788) was a planter, politician and a Loyalist in Maryland during the American Revolution. He was the son of Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore, the third Proprietor Governor of Mar ...

, the illegitimate son of

, proprietary governor of the

. The young Benedict Calvert lived at the Annapolis home of Maryland politician and planter Dr George Steuart, an

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

-trained physician who was a political ally of the ruling Calvert family.

Public Office

From around 1732-1747 Razzolini was appointed Armourer and Keeper of the Stores of Maryland. This was an important position, which gave Razzolini some considerable responsibility for the defense of the Colony. Razzolini appears also to have been also a member of the Council and Keeper of the Council Chamber. Razzolini is thought to be the first immigrant of Italian descent to hold public office in the North American colonies.''Sons of Garibaldi in Blue and Gray: Italians in the American Civil War'' by Frank W. Alduino and David J. Coles, p.6
Retrieved 30 April 2020 In 1649 the Maryland Assembly had passed a law permitting French, Dutch and Italian immigrants to own land and enjoy the same rights as English settlers in the Province.

Return to Italy

Razzolini married Elizabeth Fleury, a Roman Catholic and the only daughter of a French officer who was President of the Parliament of

Rouen Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine in northern France. It is the prefecture of the Regions of France, region of Normandy (administrative region), Normandy and the Departments of France, department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one of ...

. Razzolini returned with his bride to Asolo in 1747; her inheritance allowed them to build a fine villa which still stands today. In 1761, after the death of his first wife, he married again and had three daughters.

Death and legacy

Onorio Razzolini died in Asolo in 1769 at the age of 70. The Villa Razzolini has since 1998 has been open to the public as a restaurant.History of Villa Razzolini
Retrieved 19 June 2020

Notes

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References

People of colonial Maryland