I've passed this house many times, in the Rosebank section of Staten Island. On closer inspection, it is a monument to a fascinating man who was pivotal to Italian history.
This plaque gives but a glimpse into the life of Garibaldi, who was a natural political and military leader. He traveled extensively, and could motivate people wherever he went. While living in Uruguay, for example, Garibaldi began an Italian Legion in the Uruguayan Civil War, and later returned to Italy as a commander and helped to win several battles. In 1849, he took on the defense of Rome and led the Republican Army against the encroaching French.
Garibaldi went into exile after an epic march, and ultimate withdrawal from Italy. A wealthy Italian merchant, Francesco Carpanetto, offered to finance a ship which Garibaldi would command--this brought him to America. When he arrived, the finances had fallen through and Garibaldi ended up living in this cottage owned by the inventor Antionio Meucci, on the north side of Staten Island, though he stayed for only one year. He soon departed for Nicaragua, Peru, China, Australia and and back to the US. He had a lifetime of adventures, for more information, read here: wikipedia.com.
If anyone happens to have an image of the flag of the Italian Legion from the 1840s, please forward it, I would love to post it here. It is described as a black flag with a volcano in the center.
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