Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1896-05-15
TITLED NEeRoEs.
Members of the black Rnce kniGhted
by European soverciEns.


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-tra AldridEe-who created such a
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 insienias Of various royal
orders. the gifts Of kings and queens whom
he had charmed and delighted by his mag
nifcent impersonations Of the characters
he assumed.
Aldridge was Maryland negro and
first went to Europe some time Ia the
forties Ia the capacity OF valet 70 distin-
guished American tragedian, who dlscoV-
ering his talents and bent of mind, en-
couraged him to become an actor. He per
formed in the principal cities OF Europe,
and It is recorded OF MIN that When ne
played Iago In the city Of Moscow, IN Rus-
STA, n number OF students who had wit
messed the performance unhitched inc
horses from the actors carriage after the
play was over, and dragged him N trl-
imph 10 his lodgings. In Sweden and Ger
many and England his name was house
hold word. He stood In the. 'front.' fdlS
among the greatest actors OF his day, ana
the nobility Of Europe held him 10 tne
same regard and treated him with the
same consideration that Americans be-
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 Wit
messed by one or more members OF the
royal family Of the country he was ~.
He was very dark in complexion, with a
full, round face. He was nearly six feet ~
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
10 that period had ever essayed those roles
The newspapers Of that period shoWered
unstiuted praise upon this remarkable
negro, and ne was lionized ~ fashionable
society and feted by the nobility; the KING
OF Sweden knighted him, and the emperor
Of Russia conferred decoration upon MIN.
His medals and decorations from other
personages were estimated at the time %
his death, 1867, to be worth over S29gW
Aldridge owned nine villas situated in
various parts of Europe, and each 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, X. 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, corporal In one Of the West ludia
regiments, for having saved the lie 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 lodgment IN that OF his
captain. Peter Salem did something like
this during our Revolutionary war.
In 1873 or 1879 the president Of the re-
public Of Liberia conferred upon The
dee. Il fnhHH
Smyth, In consideration OF friendly SER
vices 10 the republic, the title Of knight
Of The Order OF African Redemption"
In letter dated az the Palace of Mad
rid, February IL, 1852. King Alfonso Of
Spain writes to the president Of Liberia
as follows:
Great and Good Friend: Desiring to
give you public testimony Of my royal
appreciation and my particular esteem,
/ / have had special pleasure in nominating
you Knight Of the Grand Cross of the
| Royal Order OF Isabel the Catholic. /
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 l repeat to you the
assurance Of the affection which I enter
1 tain toward you, ana with which I am,
great and good friend, your great and
So Palace Of Madrid. February H. iss2.
There are few better lawyers anywhere
than are to be found among the educated
/ blacks Of the British West Indies The at
l torney general OF the Island of Jamaica
some years ago was a regro, by name
Burke, who was said to be as eloquent of
1 speech and as formidable in argument as
/ his great Irish namesake, Edmund Burke,
who it will be remembered, said on one
! occasion, Great men are the guide posts
/ of nation" The black Burke was famed
not alone for his oratory but for the sound
] ness Of his legal judgment and the fairness
4 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
| hair In stature he is less than five feet in
Il he shrugs his shoulders when he walks,
4 but, unlike him. he does not sing out,
shine on. bright sun. &c. He Is Sir sam
uel Lewis. and was kulghted by Queen
/ Victoria about four or five years ago. He
/ is one Of the ablest lawyers In Sierra
| Leone, and represents the interests u
some of the wealthiest firms IN England.
/ Sir Samuel was recently offered by firm
I that city and attend 10 its legal business
but he declined the offer, preferring TO re
main among his people In Sierra Leone,
with whom he IL great fayorlte.
The lord chief justice of Trinidad, W l.,
! Sir Conrad Reeves. Is a negro scholar and
/ a cultured and refined gentleman, upon
I whom Queen Victoria some years ago con-
! ferFed the order Of knlghthoo1. he Is a x.
/ @. AS lord chief justice Of Trinidad, he
4 wears the wig aud flowing robes with
4 lowly grace and dignity. For many years
4 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 synp-
| nyme for prohlty and integrity. He is a
1 man of great wealth.