Giorgio Andrea Agnès des Geneys
Giorgio Andrea Agnès des Geneys, born in Chiomonte on 29 April 1761 was an admiral and general. He had already embarked on a military career in the Regia Marina Sarda at the age of 12, he was then enlisted as a midshipman and assigned to Sardinia, where the Savoy navy was employed for coastal defense against the raids of the Barbary pirates.
For a period he was chief of staff on the "San Vittorio" commanded by British Commodore Ross, along with which he was later taken prisoner by the French. Released after 3 years in prison, he was appointed assistant to the viceroy of Sardinia. These were years in which the Mediterranean was the scene of continuous clashes and battles.
When Napoleon won the battle of Marengo, Charles Emmanuel IV of Savoy was forced to retreat to Sardinia, leaving Piedmont to become a French department. Des Geneys, who was with him, has been appointed rear admiral.
The Congress of Vienna returned Piedmont to the Savoy. Des Geneys became Governor of Genoa, he was awarded the rank of Admiral. and the command of the entire Regia Marina Sarda, whose fleet has been modernized.In 1816 he founded the Royal Naval School which had the task of training new officers.
Admiral Des Geneys died in Genoa on 8 January 1839 and is buried in the basilica of Santissima Annunziata.
Also in Genoa, an avenue was named after Admiral Giorgio des Geneys. It is located in the area of Quarto dei Mille, in the East of the city, from where on 5 May 1860 sailed the expedition of the Thousand of Garibaldi.
