Relatively Speaking

By luigi_pagano
- 371 reads
In 1970, I started working in a travel agency in central London.
My wife, who at the time was employed by different travel operators located in Tottenham Court Road, had spotted a vacancy for a junior accounts clerk in the aforementioned establishment and suggested I apply for the post.
Though adequately numerate, I wasn't familiar with Luca Pacioli's double-entry bookkeeping but I took the plunge, thinking 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'.
My knowledge of the Italian language (perfect) and English (imperfect but improving) were what got me the job, as being bilingual or multilingual was one of therequirements.
The company provided comprehensive services, booking scheduled and charter flights, hotel reservations, car rentals, planning itineraries and assistance with documentation like visas and passport renewal.
The accounts department was above the ground floor. It was a small office whose occupants were the supervisor, a senior clerk, and me.
Although a separate unit from the front desk, it was made clear that at busy times, if the demands on the booking agents were overwhelming or in the case of staff absences, it would be all hands to the pump and everyone expected to give support.
It didn't take long to learn the ropes, and soon I was behind the counter dispensing travellers' cheques or foreign currency.
One day, a distraught client, after having booked and paid fo ra holiday to Italy, realised that his passport had expired the previous day and needed to be promptly renewed.
“Can you do miracles?”, he anxioudly asked and showed me the document.
The surname on it was the same as mine and I told him so.
“By Jove”, he exclaimed, “can it possibly be that we are related?”
It was a remote possibilty but, having ascertained that he lived in Buenios Aires and I in London, and we didnn't seem to have any relatives in common, we dismissed the idea.
I managed to get him a Fast Track passport renewal and he was delighted.
For me, apart from the satisfaction of having accomplished a worthwhile act, that random encounter engendered in me the desire of finding out about my ancestors.
Thinking of producing a family tree appeared to be a forlorn hope with over 300,000 records with the surname Pagano, including births, deaths and immigration documents.
In those days, with limited resources, lack of investigative skill and a shortage of family connections, made such a task virtually impossible for me. Nevertheles I was always on the lokout for any mention of our patronym.
In the Encycloprdia Britanica I came across the name of Mario Pagano, executed by hanging in Naples in the year 1799.
I thought that I had found a black sheep of the family but further reading revealed that he was not a notorious criminal but a notable individual who had incurred the wrath of Ferdinand IV of the House of Bourbon who was in control of the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily.
Mario Pagano (8 December 1748 – 29 October 1799) was an Italian jurist, author, thinker, and the founder of the Neapolitan school of law. He is regarded as one of the most influental Enlightenment thinkers. A moderate reformist, he is seen as a forerunner of Italian unification.
So, what was the cause of this upright citizen's transgression?
In 1794 he had defended thre alleged conspirators against Ferdinand IV. After they were found guilty and sentenced to death, Pagano was divested of his professorship, expelled from the kingdom in 1796 but three years laterr he returned to Naples where he drafted the constitution of the short-lived Neapolitan Republic, a document considered to be the precursor of the modern constitutional court.
He and other intellectuals, noble and bourgeosie, supported by French revolutionary troops established the Parthenopean Republic after King Ferdinand IV fled.
While some championed the cause, it lacked the endorsement of the general populace, manipulated by anti revulationary forces, and opposed militarily by a papal armyand the English fleet under the command of Horatio Nelson.
The revolt was quicly suppressed and the Bourbon restoration resulted in brutal reprisals.
Pagano and leading co-conspirators paid the pric with their life while others were imprisoned, exiled or fled.
I don't know if this martyr for the cause of Italian liberty was a relative of mine but I can imadine that he was.
This tragic story has stuck in my mind ever since I first read it, especially as its main protagoist bore my father'name.
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Comments
A colourful heritage Luigi
A colourful heritage Luigi reflecting Italy's turbulent past.
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Fascinating, Luigi. I am off
Fascinating, Luigi. I am off to find out more about this gentleman!
I would imagine that working in a Travel Agents would be quite a rich source of interesting stories!
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Nelson's behaviour during
Nelson's behaviour during this brutally supressed uprising was appalling, and when I learned about it years ago I could never regard him as a hero again.
Good for you being related (possibly) to one of the good guys.!
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Hi Luigi
Hi Luigi
Yes I read a biography of Nelson some time ago where the whole sorry story was laid out. Nelson, living the high life in Naples in a menage a trois with the Hamiltons, and best buddy with the King and Queen, turning the Jacobins over for trial and particularly grisly excution when they had been promised safe conduct back to France under a negotiated treaty. There's a lot more to it as well, such as his behaviour over refusing Admiral Caracciolo a fair trial, which I expect you've found out.
Like most English people I was brought up thinking of Nelson as a hero. Of course all heros are flawed, like all people are flawed, but he seems to have very willingly behaved disgracefully as a puppet of the King and Queen, in order to ingratiate himself with them and Emma Hamilton, who was the Queen's best friend.
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How interesting Luigi, and
How interesting Luigi, and how difficult it was before the internet to research family trees, especially when your family was abroad unless you paid someone to help. Did you get any further in your research? Yes please to more travel agent stories!
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What a fascinating and brave
What a fascinating and brave person. It would not surprise me if you are related! In spirit, for sure, as you care also for Justice as shown in your writing.
You show how some countries, always, seem to have felt the need to squash societal improvements in others, perhaps in fear of them spreading.
Please do post more anecdotes!
ps what an amazingly alive and strong face, but also ready to laugh
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What a fascinating journey
What a fascinating journey into your family tree, Luigi. Full of colour and intrigue. As you know, I adore history in general although I've never delved into my ancestry. My OH has and it did result in me reconnecting with members of my family I hadn't seen in an age. Yes, do keep posting more on this subject.
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DNA testing
Hi Luigi
Have you considered having DNA testing done for you and your close family ?
I got me, my sister and our dad (97) done. The results were spectacularly unexpected ! Apart from one Welsh and one Irish great-grandmother, we thought we were all as English as you could get. But no ! Turns out I'm only 24% English and my sister is only 10% English.
I've put the results in a spreadsheet to hand on down the family.
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This absorbing piece is today
This absorbing piece is today's Facebook, X/Twitter and BlueSky Pick of the Day.
Congratulations (and a very happy birthday when it comes, Luigi)
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