Luigi Palma di Cesnola

Luigi Palma di Cesnola
Cesnola c. 1900
Born(1832-07-29)July 29, 1832
Rivarolo Canavese, Kingdom of Sardinia
DiedNovember 20, 1904(1904-11-20) (aged 72)
New York City, United States
Place of burial
Kensico Cemetery
Valhalla, New York
Allegiance Kingdom of Sardinia
 United Kingdom
United States United States of America
Service / branchKingdom of Sardinia Sardinian Army
 British Army
 United States Army
Union Army
Years of service1849–1854 (Sardinia)
1854–1856 (UK)
1862–1865 (USA)
Rank Colonel (USA)
UnitNew York (state) 4th New York Volunteer Cavalry Regiment
Commands4th New York Volunteer Cavalry Regiment
Battles / warsFirst Italian War of Independence
Crimean War
American Civil War
AwardsMedal of Honor

Luigi Palma di Cesnola (July 29, 1832 – November 20, 1904), an Italian-American soldier, diplomat and amateur archaeologist, was born in Rivarolo Canavese, near Turin. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the American Civil War. He was United States consul at Larnaca in Cyprus (1865–1877) and first Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (1879–1904).[1]

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