Pasquale Paoli – A short biography

Pasquale Paoli was born on April 6 1725 in Stretta, a hamlet of the Corsican village of Merusaglia (map). At that time the island was still under Genovese rule. On January 30 1735, a Cunsulta (Assembly) met in Orezza, declared the independence of Corsica and drafted a constitution giving legislative power to deputies elected by the people and executive power to a Junta of 6 people elected by the Assembly. Ghjacintu Paoli, father of Pasquale, was a member of this Junta but in 1739 a Corsican insurrection was crushed, and Pasquale and Ghjacintu fled to Italy, where Pasquale went to University in Naples and was a brilliant student. His father had chosen the church for him but he decided to become a soldier and was billeted in Sicily as a lieutenant in the Royal Farnese.

While in Italy, he followed closely the politics of Corsica and when his brother Clemente, who had remained in Corsica, asked him to come back, very much against the wishes of his father, he arrived in Aleria in April 1755. He was elected “General of the Nation” on July 14 of the same year by the Cunsulta which was eventually to decide his role. To achieve their ambition of freeing Corsica from the Genovese, and becoming independent, the Corsicans needed to elect a General with full powers, except in matters of state for which he would have to consult with the deputies.

When Paoli arrived, anarchy, disorder, vendetta and poverty were rife. An immense task awaited him. With firm patience, he reorganised the island and gave rights and dignity to its people. He made it into a nation with a constitution, an army, a monetary system, a very strict justice and an efficient civil service. He founded a university in Corti, opened schools, encouraged economy, and promoted industry and commerce. He also introduced the culture of potatoes and planted more chestnut trees, created ports for commercial exchanges, and exploited the island’s lead and silver mines. Under his enlightened rule the island became a successful democratic republic, admired and commented upon by many writers in Europe, including Rousseau (w) and Voltaire (w), who were to write drafts for the constitution.

However the island’s strategic position in the Mediterranean had been coveted by many countries in the past (this continued until after the 1945 war and the arrival of the Americans). In May 1768, King Louis XV arranged for his minister, Choiseul, to buy Corsica for France by the Treaty of Versailles.

Paoli, appalled, called for a Cunsulta in Corti and when the king, wanting to take possession, invaded the island with his army, the Corsicans defended themselves with much success at first, but were finally defeated at Ponte Novo (map) on May 9 1769. In despair, Paoli, who had sought help from all the European countries, was forced into exile. On June 13 1769 he boarded an English ship for London, where he was greeted by his friend James Boswell (w) whom he had met in Corsica a few years before and who had pleaded the cause of the island among the English. Here Paoli was treated like an important head of state and mobbed by enthusiastic crowds of followers. King George III gave him an audience and a pension “to enable him to live like a gentleman”.

While in London, Paoli lived in Baker Street and Old Bond Street (1769), Albemarle Street (1772), Jermyn Street and Hill Street (1773), at 77 South Audley Street (1778) – the location for which a commemorative plaque has been placed, Upper Seymour Street (1784), and from 1799 at 1 Edgware Road where he died (1807). During this time he met all the literary and artistic celebrities of the Dr. Johnson-Boswell circle. He also visited the Cosway’s frequently and became a firm friend of Maria Cosway (w). She was a painter and society lady, and the very pretty wife of the well-known miniaturist Richard Cosway. She won the heart of Paoli who became the godfather of her daughter, called Paolina in his honour.

In 1789 during the French revolution, Paoli was allowed to return to Corsica and was elected President and General of the Garde Nationale. Now perhaps there might be a period of peace for Corsica. But from1792 Paoli, who wanted Corsica to remain peaceful and free of revolutionary atrocities, was accused of treason, harassed by his enemies and called Traitor to the Nation by the Convention, despite Napoleon’s efforts to save him.

Paoli called the English Navy to the rescue and the French had to leave Corsica. A new Cunsulta in June 1794 officially broke with France, adopted a constitution, and created an Anglo-Corsican kingdom. The legislative power now belonged to both the crown of England and the Corsican parliament, whose deputies were elected for two years and voted the laws. Corsicans were very disappointed and angry at this arrangement, as they had expected Paoli to become Viceroy of the kingdom, but King George named Sir Gilbert Elliot (w) in his place.

Torn between the old regime, the revolution, and independence, Corsica was in turmoil, chaos and anarchy. Sir Gilbert Elliot persuaded that Paoli was the cause of the troubles, asked for him to be exiled once more and he left for London on October 14 1795. After his departure the relationship between the English and the Corsicans deteriorated further. Alarmed by Napoleon’s triumphs in Italy, the English thought it more prudent to leave Corsica. In 1796 the island returned to the French.

Paoli died in London at No.1 Edgware Road on February 5 1807, after spending a total of 32 years in England. He was buried in the cemetery of St. Pancras. In September 1889, after work started on the railway station, Paoli’s ashes were transferred to his birthplace in Merusaglia, 100 years after his death, and where his house has been turned into a museum.

A bust by Flaxman was placed in Westminster Abbey (w) and the Amicale Pasquale Paoli lays a wreath there every year on his birthday.