On the heels of the St. Augustine Foot Soldiers monument, dedicated less than thirty days ago, and the Andrew Young Crossing monument being dedicated this weekend, Historic City News has learned that the city commission will hear a proposal for yet another monument when they convene next week.
A plan to erect a life-size statue of General Jorge (Georges) Biassou, leader of the Haitian Revolution and highest ranking Spanish officer in St. Augustine during the late 1700’s, will be aired before the City Commission on June 13th and reviewed by the city’s Historic Architectural Review Board on June 16th.
The original plans call for the construction of the monument to be on the north green of the Visitor Information Center.
The flamboyant general, noted for his gold-trimmed clothes, silver saber, and ivory dagger, commanded a small black militia at Fort Matanzas — an assignment that didn’t sit well with him after commanding an army of thousands.
Biassou died here in 1801 and was accorded a Catholic Mass, a funeral procession to Tolomato Cemetery with drummers, and a black honor guard. The location of his grave has been lost to time; however, a Haitian delegation hopes to establish a marker at the cemetery recognizing his career.
Private funds were raised to construct the Foot Soldier monument, city funds were used to pay for the Andrew Young Crossing monument. No word on who has proposed to pay for the General Biassou monument, if it receives approval.
Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News contributed painting by Alexandra Barbot