The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-05-16
TITLED NEGROES.
Members of the Black Race Knighted
by European Sovereigns.

1
by European Sovereigns.
From the Boston Evening Transcript
There have been many negroes in Eu-
rope and the West Indies who have re-
ceived distinguished considerations in the
way of decorations from the crowned
heads of the Old World. The Black Ros-
cius-Ira Aldridge-who created such
Juror in Europe many years ago as TRACE
dian, and who was frequently carried from
the theaters in which he performed upon
the shoulders of his enthusiastic auditors
to his hotel, was loaded down with
medals, the insignias of various royal
orders, the gifts of kings and queens whom
he had charmed and delighted by his mag
nificent impersonations of the characters
| he assumed.
Aldridge was a Maryland negro, and
| first went to Europe some time IN the
| forties in the capacity of valet to disun-
| guished American tragedian, who. discoV-
| ering his talents and bent of mind, en-
couraged him to become an actor. He per-
formed in the principal cities OF Europe,
and II is recorded Of him that when he
played Iago in the city of Moscow, in Rus
| STA, a number of students VINO had VIII
messed the performance unmtcheu the
| horses from the actors carriage after the
play was over, and dragged him IN trl-
| umph to his lodgings. In Sweden and Ger
many and England his name was house
| hold word. He stood in the front rank
| among the greatest actors of his day, and
the nobility OF Europe held him in the
| same regard and treated him with the
same consideration that Americans De-
stow upon Keene or Barrett or Booth, or
| any other great actor who has made him
| self famous. ira Aldridge gave no per
! formanceS in Europe which were not VII
messed by one or more members OF the
royal family of the country ne was H.
| He was very dark in complexion, with a
full, round face; He was nearly SIX Ieet N
height. He had large, lustrous eyes ana
resonant voice, which he kept under per-
As Aaron in Titus Andronicus" and as
the Moor in "Othello." he established his
fame as the most realistic actor who up
to that period had ever essayed those roles
The newspapers of that period showered
unstinted praise upon this remarkable
negro, and he was lionized in fashionable
society and feted by the nobility; the King
of Sweden knighted him, and the Emperor
of Russia conferred a decoration upon him.
His medals and decorations from other
personages were estimated at the time or
his death, 1861, to be worth over $250, w.
Aldridge owned nine villas situated in
various parts of Europe, and ench of them
handsomely furnished. His principal res
idence was in the city of London, where
he entertained in royal manner the
legions of friends who sought his COM
pany and that of his charming wife,
Swedish baroness, by whom he had three
children. He died in 1867 as Sir Ira Aid
ridge, K. C. NJ, and a host of other titles
given him at various times.
Queen Victoria has recently conferred
the Victoria Cross upon coal black
negro, a corporal in one of the West India
regiments, for having saved the life of
his commanding officer by throwing him
self in front of the latter and receiving in
his own body the bullets that would have
otherwise found Judgment in that Of his
captain. Peter Salem did something like
this during our Revolutionary war.
In 1878 or 1879 the president of the re
public of Liberia conferred upon the
American minister. the Hon. John H.
Smyth, in consideration of friendly SER
vices to the republic. the title of Knight
of the Order of African Redemption"
In letter dated at the Palace of Mad
rid. February II, 1882 King Alfonso of
Spain writes to the president of Liberia
Great and Good Friend: Desiring to
give you a public testimony of my royal
appreciation and my particular esteem,
1 have had special pleasure in nominating
you Knight of the Grand Cross of the
Royal Order of Isabel the Catholic. 1
am pleased by this action also to furnish
new proof of the desire which animates
me to strengthen more. and more the
friendly relations which happily exist be-
tween Spain and the republic of Liberia.
And with this motive repeat TO you the
assurance of the affection which | enter
tain toward you, ana with which l am,
great and good friend, your great and
good friend, ALFONSO.
There are few better lawyers anywhere
than are to be found among the educated
blacks of the British West Indies The at
some years ago was a negro, by name
Burke. who was said to be as eloquent of
speech and as formidable in argument as
his great Irish namesake, Edmund Burke,
who, 1t will be remembered, said on one
occasion, Great men are the guide posts
of a nation" The black Burke was famed
not alone for his oratory but for the sound
ness of his legal judgment and the fairness
OF his decisions, while acting as attorney
general. He was knighted some years ago
by Queen Victoria.
In Freetown, Sierra Leone there lives a
very ordinary-looking little black man.
who has the regular negro features and
height. Like the immortal Richard Ill.
he shrugs his shoulders when he walks
but unlike him, he does not sing out
''Shine on, bright SUM- &c. He is Sir Sam
uel Lewis, and was knighted by Queen
Victoria about four or five years ago He
Leone, and represents the interests of
some Of the wealthiest firms in England
Sir Samuel as recently offered by a firm
in London 70 900 per annum to locate IN
that city and attend to its legal business
but he declined the offer, preferring to re-
main among his people in Sierra Leone,
with whom he is great favorite.
The lord chief justice of Trinidad, w. L,
Sir Conrad Reeves, is a negro scholar and
a cultured and refined gentleman, upon
whom Queen Victoria some years ago con-
ferred the order of knighthood; he is X.
G. As lord chief justice of Trinidad, he
wears the wig and flowing robes with
he was Queens counsel. He is greatly es-
teemed for his urbanity, his learning and
his great ability as a lawyer. He Is one of
the most polished and finished gentlemen
at the English bar. His name is the syno-
nyme for probity and integrity. He is a
mi Of