Marianne Celeste Dragon | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Marianne Celeste Dragon in 1795, painted by José Francisco de Salazar y Mendoza. | |
| Born | 1 March 1777 New Orleans, Spanish Louisiana |
| Died | 22 April 1856 (aged 78) New Orleans, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Alexander Dimitry |
| Parent | Michel Dragon |
| Relatives | John Bull Smith Dimitry Charles Patton Dimitry Ernest Lagarde George Pandely Theodore John Dimitry Jr. Dracos Anthony Dimitry Randolph Natili |
| Family | Dimitry Family (Creoles) |
Marie Celeste Dragon (1777–1856) was a prominent Creole of color land owner during the Spanish Louisiana period, also known for her portrait by José Francisco Xavier de Salazar y Mendoza.[1] She was the wife of Andrea Dimitry. They were an interracial couple. Dragon passed neither as black or white due to her mixed ancestry. She was of Greek-French and African descent.[2][3]
Her likeness has been featured in countless articles as representative of the creole community. She was on the cover of the book Exiles at Home The Struggle to Become American in Creole New Orleans by Shirley Elizabeth Thompson. Two of her creole children attended Georgetown. Her son Alexander Dimitry was the first person of color to attend Georgetown University and the first person of color to become a U.S. Ambassador. He was Ambassador to Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Her first daughter Euphrosyne married Paul Pandely. Paul's mother Elizabeth English are claimed to be a member of the English royal House of Stuart. Paul's father was of Greek descent.[4][5][6]
- ^ Staff Writers (March 20, 2022). "Portrait of Marianne Celeste Dragon Dimitry". Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ "Louise Pecquet du Bellet" Some Prominent Virginia Families Vol. 4 Lynchburg, VA: J.P. Bell Company Inc. 1907: p. 188
- ^ Steve Frangos (June 12, 2018). "First Greek Couple of North America: Andrea Dimitry and Marianne Celeste Dragon". Ethinkos Kirikas The National Herald. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ Thompson, Shirley Elizabeth (2009). Exiles at Home The Struggle to Become American in Creole New Orleans. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. p. 39. ISBN 9780674023512.
- ^ Kendall, John Smith (1922). History of New Orleans Volume 3. Chicago And New York: The Lewis Publishing Company. p. 1104.
- ^ Foretia 2023, pp. 11–36.