Marianne Celeste Dragon | |
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![]() Portrait of Marianne Celeste Dragon in 1795, painted by José Francisco de Salazar y Mendoza. | |
Born | New Orleans, Spanish Louisiana | 1 March 1777
Died | 22 April 1856 New Orleans, United States | (aged 78)
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 |
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]