Eugen Ghica-Comănești facts for kids

Eugen Ghica-Comănești (born December 31, 1839 – died December 20, 1914) was an important Romanian explorer and a leader in politics. He is known for his travels and for serving as a captain in the American Civil War.

Eugen Ghica-Comănești: Early Life and Family

Eugen Ghica was the son of Niculae Ghica-Comăneștenul and Ecaterina (born Plagino). His father was a respected lawyer. The Ghica family was very influential in the Romanian lands. They had many important leaders, starting from the 1600s.

Eugen's father left a large amount of land to his children. This land was divided into ten large areas. Eugen and his four brothers and sister each received two of these areas.

Eugen married Jeanne-Catherine Keșco. Through this marriage, he became related to Milan Obrenović, who was the King of Serbia. King Milan's mother was from the Sturdza family.

Serving in the American Civil War

Eugen Ghica-Comănești is famous for his part in the American Civil War (1861-1865). Romanian newspapers, like "Buciumul", wrote about his involvement. In 1866, a local official named Matei Sturza even praised him. He said Eugen was "a man who, during the American war, showed his worth under the command of Lincoln, the new Washington!".

In 1861, Eugen joined the war as a volunteer. He signed up for the 5th New York Volunteer Infantry after Abraham Lincoln asked for help. He was hurt during a battle. Because of his bravery, he received an award and was promoted to captain.

On July 30, 1862, another Romanian volunteer, Nicolae Dunca, passed away. Eugen was in a military hospital in New York at the time. He sent a letter to express his sadness, which was also printed in the "Buciumul" newspaper.

By April 30, 1863, Eugen was a captain in the 5th Volunteer Regiment. He took part in a military campaign led by General Nathaniel Banks in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He then traveled to New Orleans and Key West in Florida.

By June 6, 1863, he became the leader of Company I. This company was part of the 10th Regiment of the Corps d'Afrique. This unit was made up of African American soldiers. Their camp was set up in Port Hudson.

Eugen decided to leave the army for family reasons. He resigned on December 24, 1863, and his resignation was accepted on December 31. He then traveled back to Romania. He stopped in Berlin for two weeks to explore the city. After that, he returned to his home in Comănești. His friends were very excited to hear his stories from the war.

Eugen Ghica's Political Career

After returning home, Eugen Ghica-Comănești became involved in politics. In 1869, he was chosen to be a member of the Parliament for Bacău County.

From 1879 until he passed away, Eugen was the permanent representative for Bacău County in Parliament. He held strong views against the ruling family at times. This was especially true in 1871, during problems caused by the Strussberg Affair and the Franco-Prussian War.