Massimo Balzi, president of the Circolo Culturale Filippo Mazzei, host of Claudio Brachino’s podcast “Portraits,” of ilNewyorkese recounted the extraordinary life and cultural legacy of Filippo Mazzei. A Tuscan physician, merchant, revolutionary and philosopher, Mazzei played a key role in the drafting of the American Constitution, leaving an indelible mark on the historical and cultural relationship between Italy and the United States.
“Filippo Mazzei was a man of the Age of Enlightenment, characterized by a fervent belief in democracy and an insatiable intellectual curiosity,” Balzi explained.
Originally a physician, Mazzei practiced his profession in Livorno and even in Turkey, in Izmir, and then became a merchant in London, where he opened stores dedicated to made in Tuscany. “It was in London that, at the behest of Grand Duke Leopold of Lorraine, he met Benjamin Franklin, with whom he then left for America.”
Once in America, Mazzei became a central figure in the political and social life of the fledgling nation. “Mazzei landed in Virginia laden with goods, as Oriana Fallaci also recounts. Thomas Jefferson invited him to live near him in Monticello, to perfect his Italian. He thus became Jefferson’s friend and neighbor, participating directly in the American Revolution as a private soldier,” Balzi recalled. Jefferson himself later entrusted Mazzei with diplomatic assignments, including that of Virginia’s ambassador to Paris, to sell U.S. government bonds in Europe.
Balzi stressed the historical importance of Mazzei’s contribution to the U.S. Constitution: “It is now an established historical fact that Mazzei directly contributed to the American Constitution. The famous phrase ‘all men are equal’ is in fact taken from a letter he addressed to the people of Albemarle County, signed Furious. Jefferson took those words literally and inserted them into the Constitution.” This contribution was recognized by John F. Kennedy in his book “Nation of Immigrants” and is remembered with pride at events in the Italian-American community.
Finally, Massimo Balzi explained how the Filippo Mazzei Cultural Circle, which he presides over, continues the work of this illustrious historical figure today, focusing on territorial cohesion and dialogue between different local Tuscan realities: “Our circle acts as a meeting point between different administrations, facilitating constructive dialogue and overcoming local barriers. This spirit comes precisely from Mazzei, a global man who is open to cultures.”
As President Massimo Balzi likes to recall, the figure of Mazzei still remains an example of moderation, openness and defense of democratic values: “Mazzei still represents a model of dialogue, knowledge and moderation. He was a man of mediation, opposed to extremism and economic protectionism, a staunch supporter of free trade and diplomacy. In today’s geopolitical context, his figure reminds us how important it is to defend democratic values, which are also increasingly threatened by cyber and media conflicts. Mazzei himself physically fought for democracy, but above all he used politics and diplomacy as privileged tools to defend it.”
The article Massimo Balzi and the memory of Filippo Mazzei, the Tuscan who inspired the U.S. Constitution comes from TheNewyorker.
