Who Am I????? (WWII, war, general, France)

[jtur88]

I had never known those details of Caruso's life before. Thanks.
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I was raised on a plantation, the son of a slave woman and her master. I was first trained to be the plantation chef, after being bought for over $1,500. At the age of 28 I became the first African American to achieve a certain distinction. After that, I succeeded in reaching even higher aspirations, among them, founding a university and being elected state senator.

[jtur88]

I'lll give an extra hint, because much of the information in the clue is not included in my very skimpy Wikipedia article. I had a completely French name, and my surname is believed to be the second oldest surname in France. The town that I am associated with was once, briefly, the state capital.

[UNC4Me]

Pierre Caliste Landry

[jtur88]

Originally Posted by UNC4Me

Pierre Caliste Landry

Correct. Mayor of Donaldsonville, Louisiana---first black mayor in US history.

Your turn.

[UNC4Me]

Originally Posted by jtur88

Correct. Mayor of Donaldsonville, Louisiana---first black mayor in US history.

Your turn.

I was born in Spain. I was a member of the clergy, but also served in the household of a high ranking military official. A page of my illustrated published works recently sold at auction in excess of $2000. These illustrations are used by people everywhere, every day, to enhance their knowledge and understanding.

[jtur88]

Your clues are a little thin. Documents sell every day for $2000 at auctions, that is a paltry sum. Millions of illustrations are used "every day" to enhance knowledge and understanding, from the Yellow Pages to pornography. My first guess is that it is a map.

[UNC4Me]

Here's a hint.... A monument to a predecessor of mine can be found in a park in Madrid.

[UNC4Me]

Originally Posted by jtur88

Your clues are a little thin. Documents sell every day for $2000 at auctions, that is a paltry sum. Millions of illustrations are used "every day" to enhance knowledge and understanding, from the Yellow Pages to pornography. My first guess is that it is a map.

No, not a map. Think more "instruction" instead of purely illustration.

[UNC4Me]

Here's another hint.... the tomb of a successor of mine can be found in Saint Roch Church in Paris.

[UNC4Me]

This one should clinch it.... The most well know American practioner, of the modern version of my instructive illustrations, was the first person with their paticular disability to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree.