Biography

Marquis Cavalcabo. (-)

According to Boswell in GT1, "an Italian nobleman of ancient family, not rich, but very knowing and extremely clever."

I have not been able to identify him with any more certainty, at this point.

A Marquis Cavalcabo was Catherine the Great's envoy to Malta from 1770 to 1776.

Life with James Boswell:

The Marquis, on August 13, 1764 in Brunswick, told Boswell about the supposed ability of ice to cure "a weakness of the stomach and a relaxation of the nerves", and promised to teach him his ice-making method. They met on a couple of other occasions before Boswell left Brunswick for the last time on August 22, 1764. After their last meeting on August 21, Boswell "found him the true bon catholique, for he talked with ease of having women, and yet told me of a distemper that he had brought on himself by fasting".

This article was last updated at December 14 2007 23:47:28 CET

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