Domenico Angelo

Domenico Angelo (1716 - 1802), fencing master, was born in Leghorn, Italy, as Angelo Domenico Malevolti Tremamondo.

According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Angelo was the first to emphasize fencing as a means of developing health, poise, and grace. As a result of his insight and influence, fencing changed from an art of war to a sport." It also calls his treatise, L’École des armes (1763; The School of Fencing) a "classic". ^[1]

Soon after arriving in England he established Angelo's School of Arms in Carlisle House, Soho, London.^[2] There he taught the aristocracy the fashionable art of Swordsmanship which they had previously had to go the continent to learn, and also set up a riding school in the former rear garden of the house. He was fencing instructor to the Royal Family. One of his tenants at Soho Square was the composer Johann Christian Bach (youngest son of J.S. Bach), harpsichord instructor to the Queen.

He then handed that school over to a son, and established himself at Eton, where his family continued to teach fencing for three more generations.

By his wife Elizabeth Johnson, Angelo had at least six children:

1. Henry Charles William, born 5 April, 1756. Also a fencing master.
2. Florella Sophia, born 1759, Dame at Eton.
3. Anne Caroline Eliza, born 1763.
4. Catherine Elizabeth, born 1766, married to Mark Drury, Second Master at Harrow school, and brother of Joseph Drury, Headmaster of Harrow.
5. Elizabeth Tremamondo, born 1768.
6. George Xavier Tremamondo, born 1773.

There was perhaps also a son Michael.

He died at his daughter Florella's house at Eton.

Legacy

• The play "Tremamondo - The Angel of Fencing", written by Alberto Bona and directed by Giampaolo Zennaro, was staged at the Teatro Carlo Goldoni, in Angelo Domenico's native town of Leghorn. ^[3]

References

1. ^ Domenico Angelo at Encyclopaedia Britannica.com.
2. ^ F.H.W. Sheppard, ed. Survey of London volume 33 The Parish of St. Anne, Soho (north of Shaftesbury Avenue), London County Council, London: University of London, 1966, pp. 143–48, online at British History Online.
3. ^ "Tremamondo, the play (in Italian)". http://www.quilivorno.it/spettacolo/16-teatro/1707-angelo-tremamondo-fa-sognare-livorno-e-inaugura-gli-assoluti-di-scherma.html. 

External links

• Descendants of Angelo Domenico Tremamondo
• Fencers of Fame and Fiction, Margaret Odrowaz-Sypniewski, B.F.A.

Persondata
Name	Angelo, Domenico
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1716
Place of birth
Date of death	1802
Place of death