Pascal Olivier Count de Negroni

General Pascal-Olivier de Negroni (4 April 1829 – 22 October 1913) led the charge of Cuirassiers in the Battle of Reichshoffen during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Negroni has been credited with inventing the famous “Negroni Cocktail”

Negroni was born in the Castle of San Colombano, also known as the Castello di San Colombano in Rogliano a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica. He joined the French Army when he was 18 years old. On August 6, 1870, he led the legendary charge of cuirassiers (mounted cavalry soldiers) in the second Battle of Reichshoffen (also known as "The Battle of Wörth") during the opening stages of the Franco Prussian War of 1870. Negroni was decorated on August 20, 1870 with Officer of the Legion of Honor.

On September 3, 1870 he was captured by the Prussians during the Battle of Sedan and spent time as a prisoner of war until his liberation on March 28, 1871.

On December 27, 1884 he was promoted to Brigadier General of the Second Brigade of Cuirassiersand on May 4, 1889 he was named Commander of the Legion of Honor.

He served in the military until 1891, retiring after 44 years of military service. Pascal-Olivier de Negroni died on October 22, 1913, in Alençon a commune in Normandy, France, capital of the Orne department.

In addition to his military accomplishments, Pascal Olivier has been credited with inventing the famous “Negroni Cocktail” (equal parts of Campari, Gin, and Sweet Vermouth, served in a short glass over ice and garnished with an orange wedge). Experts consider Camillo Negroni the inventor. However, Colonel Hector Andres Negroni and his brother Noel Xavier Negroni, members of the prestigious Negroni family recently researched the family archives and discovered there never was a Count Camillo Negroni. According to family documents, the true inventor of the “Negroni Cocktail” is Pascal Olivier de Negroni de Cardi, Comte de Negroni, their fourth cousin.

Negroni was awarded the Officier of the French Légion d'honneur

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  Officier of the French Légion d'honneur