Wladyslaw Jablonowski, a general who died in Jérémie, was born 257 years ago

257 years ago, on October 25, 1769, Wladyslaw Jablonowski was born in Danzig, Poland. A general of the French Revolution, he died in Jérémie, Saint-Domingue, in 1802.

The "Moor" of Danzig

The illegitimate son of Maria Dealire, an English aristocrat, and an African man whose name remains unknown, he was recognized by his mother's husband, the Polish nobleman Konstanty Jablonowski. He was nicknamed Murzynek, "the Moor." On February 25, 1783, he entered the Military School of Paris, where Napoleon Bonaparte and Louis Nicolas Davout were among his classmates and where he was mocked because of his skin color. Having graduated on February 20, 1786, he became a lieutenant in the Royal-Allemand regiment.

From Kościuszko to the French Army

In 1794, he fought alongside Tadeusz Kościuszko during the Polish uprising in Szczekociny, Warsaw, and Praga. Appointed brigade commander in the French army on January 4, 1798, he was nominated for the rank of general by Masséna in 1800, though it was not confirmed. Nominated again by Murat, he attained the rank on December 21, 1801.

Sent Against the Revolution

In 1802, he left for Saint-Domingue with the Polish legion, which was tasked with crushing the Haitian Revolution. He died there of yellow fever in Jérémie.