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Thomas-Alexandre Dumas
For Series 12, we're headed back to the turn of the 18th century and the events leading up to the French Revolution. The name Alexandre Dumas might ring a bell for some—he was the author of classic literature such as The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. But did you know that his father, Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, was the primary inspiration for these iconic tales? Born into slavery on the island of Haiti, Thomas-Alexandre was the bastard son of a wealthy French Marquis. After learning of an inheritance awaiting him in France, his father sold Thomas-Alexandre's mother and siblings to pay for passage back home. Eventually, he brought Thomas-Alexandre to France, where he was granted the title of Count. There, Thomas-Alexandre quickly adapted to the customs of French nobility and received a rapid-fire education. Along the way, he learned the art of sword fighting from one of France’s most acclaimed masters, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, and would later renounce his family inheritance and join the French National Guard as a Dragoon. Though his military career began modestly, Thomas-Alexandre quickly became one of the brightest stars in the French military, steadily rising through the ranks and eventually serving alongside Napoleon Bonaparte himself! His deeds became the stuff of legend, and would later form the foundation of his son's timeless stories.
Check out our series on Alexandre Dumas to learn more!