Filippo Mazzei

thumb|All men are by nature equally free and independent. Filippo Mazzei (December 25, 1730 – March 19, 1816), also known in English as Philip Mazzei, with the surname sometimes erroneously cited as Mazzie, was an Italian physician, philosopher, diplomat, winemaker, merchant, and author. A close friend of Thomas Jefferson, he was a strong supporter of the American Revolution and the American colonies' war for independence from Britain. Quotes Tutti gli uomini sono per natura egualmente liberi e indipendenti. Quest'eguaglianza è necessaria per costituire un governo libero. Bisogna che ognuno sia uguale all'altro nel diritto naturale. All men are by nature equally free and independent. Such equality is necessary in order to create a free government. All men must be equal to each other in natural law. In The Virginia Gazette (1774), as translated by Thomas Jefferson. According to John F. Kennedy, in A Nation of Immigrants (1958), ch. 3, the phrase in the United States Declaration of Independence — "All men are created equal" — was paraphrased from Mazzei's words Alberto Aquarone (ed.) Memorie della Vita e delle Peregrinazioni del Fiorentino Filippo Mazzei (Milan, 1970), p. 214 Cf. omnes homines natura aequales sunt See also Ulpian (Digesta) External links Michael A. Musmanno, The Story of the Italians in America (1965), p. 36 Margherita Marchione (tr.) Philip Mazzei, Jefferson's "Zealous Whig" (1975), p. 18 Category:1730 births Category:1816 deaths Category:People of the American Revolution