Badass Joseph Saint-Georges

Joseph Bologne 1745-1799
He began his professional career as a musician with Les Concerts des Amateurs. He made a sensational debut as a soloist with that orchestra in 1772, playing two violin concerti of his own composition. In 1773, he was named the conductor of the orchestra.Under Bologne's baton, the orchestra notably premiered Haydn's six "Paris Symphonies". - LAOpera 
The last decade of Saint-Georges’ life was dominated by the revolution. In September 1792 the Assembly decreed the formation of a corps of light troops consisting of coloured men and comprising 1,000 soldiers, of whom 800 were foot soldiers and 200 mounted and were more commonly referred to as the ‘Légion St-Georges’.Like most talented and brilliant men, he had his detractors and was eventually denounced for unrevolutionary behaviour, relieved of his command and imprisoned for 18 months. He died on June 12 1799 from complications with a bladder disease. -Artaria Editions