PAOLI, PASQUALE , Corsican general and patriot, was born at Stretta in the parish of Rostino. He was the son of Giacinto Paoli, who had led the Corsican rebels against Genoese tyranny. Pasquale followed his father into exile, studied at Naples under the reformer Genovese, and entered the Nea politan army, serving with distinction as a cavalry officer; on his return to Corsica in 1755, he was chosen commander-in-chief of the rebellion against Genoese rule. Af ter a series of brilliant ac tions he drove the Genoese from the whole island except a few coast towns. From 1757 to 1768 he was the head of the Corsican Government; he completely reorganized the administration, in troduced many useful reforms and founded a university at Corte. In 1764 Genoa concluded a treaty with France, whereby 3,000 French soldiers were sent to assist the Genoese to hold the fort-. resses, but only for defensive purposes. Paoli continued the strug gle, wrested the island of Capraia from the Genoese and captured the towns where there were no French troops, as the Corsican revolutionaries did not consider themselves at war with France. But in May 1768 Genoa, despairing of ever being able to subjugate the island, sold it to France, and the French forces in the island were at once greatly increased. Paoli now fought against the French, whom he defeated in many hard-fought battles. But with the further increase of the French forces the Corsican resistance gradually broke down, until in May 1769 Paoli had to abandon Corte, the capital, and to take refuge in England. During his so journ in London he enjoyed wide popularity, and was the friend of many celebrities, including Dr. Johnson. On the outbreak of the French Revolution the Government allowed the Corsican exiles to return, and after visiting Paris, Paoli landed at Bastia in Jan. 1791, with the rank of lieutenant-general and governor of Corsica. He resumed his work of reform and development, enjoying wide popularity, and when the republic replaced the monarchy in France he was confirmed in his appointment. But he had enemies in Corsica itself, who accused him of reactionary sentiments and of responsibility for the defeat of the French expedition to Sar dinia. He was deprived of his command by the Convention, and
a commission was sent to the island to hold an enquiry on his con duct. The commissioners set up a government of their own, side by side with that of Paoli, who was supported by the majority of the islanders. Anarchy ensued, and in July 1793, Paoli was out lawed. A civil war broke out between Paoli and his followers, assisted by British forces, and the Republicans, assisted by the French. The latter were finally defeated and the French forced to surrender; a consulta at Corte decided to place the island under British protection and drew up a constitution, and although Paoli was not too favourable to the British prottctorate, he ended by accepting it. The British Government, instead of appointing Paoli viceroy, as had been expected, appointed Gen. Sir Gilbert Elliot, who relied upon another Corsican, Pozzo di Borgo, rather than on Paoli, and eventually got Paoli out of Corsica by having him sum moned to London, where he went in 1795. This created a good deal of ill feeling, and rebellions broke out all over the island; the movement received support from the French, and the British were driven out. Paoli again had a very cordial reception in Lon don and was awarded a pension from the British Government. He died in London on Feb. 5, 1807.
See Boswell's Life of Johnson and his Account of Corsica and Memoirs of P. Paoli (1768) ; N. Tommaseo, "Lettere di Pasquale de Paoli" (in Archivio storico italiano, ist series, vol xi.), and Della Corsica, etc. (ibid., nuova serie, vol. xi., parte ii.) ; Pompei, De l'etat de la Corse (1821) ; Comte de Buttafuoco, Fragments pour servir l'histoire de la Corse de 5764 a 1769 (Bastia, 1859) ; Giovanni Livi, "Lettere inedite di Pasquale Paoli" (in Arch. stor. ital., 5th series, vols. v. and vi.) ; and Lencisa, P. Paoli e la guerra d'indipendenza della Corsica (189o) ; Bartoli, Historia di Pascal Paoli (Bastia, 1891).