FILIPPO MAZZEI MEETING B. FRANKLIN AND T. JEFFERSON
Few people know the history of Filippo Mazzei, born in Poggio a Caiano, near Florence, who while in London met the Americans Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. He shared with them the idea of importing Tuscan products, wine and olive trees to the New World and in 1773 he went to Virginia, becoming a good friend of Jefferson and they started the first vineyard trade in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
In recent times he has been recognized as one of the inspirators of the American Declaration of Independence as he shared an interest in politics and libertarian values with Jefferson. His contribution was aknowledged by John F. Kennedy in his book “A Nation of Immigrants” in which is stated that: the great doctrine “all men are created equal” was paraphrased from the writing of Philip Mazzei…
THE COLORS OF FLORENCE IN THE AMERICAN FLAG
Between the things he brought to the New World there was also the banner of Ugo di Toscana, the ruler of Tuscany in the 10th century, which is a shield with vertical white and red stripes, which can be seen in the Church Badia Fiorentina in Florence , where he is buried.
It seems that Mazzei gave the idea to his American friends to create the most famous flag in the world. The red and white stripes became horizontal and the white stars on a blue background represent each state of the Union.
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