Recently I had the opportunity to visit the city of New Bern, the second oldest city of North Carolina State. Named by the German and Swiss settlers after the Swiss capital, Bern. Founded in 1710 by German explorer Baron Christopher de Fraffenried; later New Bern was also North Carolina's first capital.

Also, New Bern is the birthplace of a world famous soft-drink. In 1896, a phamacist invented the drink first known as Brad's Drink, now popularly known as Pepsi-Cola. In the city there are a lot of museums and historical sites. One of them is called Tryon Palace. It was a state house during colonial times and accomadated several illustrious people in the history of North America.

During the visit to this site I was trying to find out more details about this sensational building. But I observed that the person who guided the tour mentioned several times the name of General Miranda, an eminent Venezuelan patriot who participated in some battles in North Africa as an officer of the Spanish Army and also had a notable participation in the French Revolution.

But, who was this illustrious persona and how was he involved in the American Revolution?

Francisco de Miranda was born on March 28, 1750, in Caracas, Venezuela. Son of Don Sebastian de Miranda y Ravelo from the Canary Islands and Francisca Rodriguez Espinoza, from a family that was living in Venezuela for several generations. From 1764 to 1766 he attended the "Class of Greater", deepening his knowledge of Latin. Finally he attended "Arts", completing his education with logic studies, physics and metaphysics, obtaining his Bachelor degree in 1767.

Early in life he entered the Spanish Army and went to Madrid, supplied with ample funds and letters of introduction. He bought a captaincy and began to keep the diary, which in time became the nucleous of an immense archive. His military career was not fortunate. After serving in Morocco and Alergia, where he experienced heavy fighting for two years, Miranda returned to Spain in 1779. Accused of neglect of duty, he was eventually cleared and was sent to Cuba, where he again fell out with the authorities.

In 1781, he left the Spanish Army and fled to the United States. He served under Bernardo de Galvez in the Spanish attack on Pensacola, and Miranda received the surrender of the British and cooperated in the capture of New Providence in the Bahamas, when Spain was an ally of the rebels in the American Revolution.

While in Cuba, Miranda played an important role in obtaining supplies and organizing a fund-raising drive for the French Admiral de Grasse who then sailed to the Chesapeake Bay to assist George Washington's armies in the American capture of Yorktown.

In 1783, Miranda arrived in New Bern, N.C. He had the opportunity to visit Tyron Palace, which combined the governor's residence and statehouse, containing the assembly hall, council chamber and public offices. This Royal Palace is considered the most beautiful building in colonial times in North America with the pure British style. Miranda noted that the palace "really merits the traveler's attention". The architect, John Hawks, gave some documents and letters to Miranda that year. A historian discovered it in the Venezuelan archives in 1992. The engraving of Tyron Palace appears on the $5.00 bills issued in North Carolina in 1775.

Henceforth, Miranda was in open rebellion against the Spanish Crown. Spurred by the example of the 13 colonies that had achieved independece from England, he aspired to set up an independent empire in Hispanic America. He later visited Philadelphia and Boston. Among his friends in the United States were such men as: George Washington, Thomas Paine, Alexander Hamilton, also known as the "Father of the Dollar", and other notable people.

Miranda traveled widely in Europe. Constantly hounded by Spanish agents he visited England, Prussia, Austria, Italy, Turkey. In Russia he bacame a favorite of Catherine II (The Great), who allowed him to wear a Russian uniform and use a passport of this European country.

In 1790, he offered his services to the French Army. In September 1792, as a general of division, he served under Charles Dumouiez in the historic field of Valmy. Another victory, this time at Antwerp, was followed by a debacle of the Republic's armies at Neewinden. Tried on charges of treachery after his defeat, Miranda was acquitted triumphantly. Later his name was inscribed at the Arc of Triumph in Paris, and Miranda has become the unique Latin American who appears on this solemn monument among those of the great captains who fought in this revolution.

Before Miranda championed the independence of the Spanish colonies, he involved himself in a number of adventures. When Napoleon won control of France, Bonaparte said about him: "Miranda is like a Quijote, except for the madness", however Miranda went back to London. In 1797, he founded the American Lodge in London, whose members swore their allegience to democracy and were to work for the independence of the Spanish American colonies. In 1803, Miranda discussed his plans with Prime Minister William Pitt, and he received the support to carry out this important mission.

In 1806, Miranda organized an expeditionary force in New York, with American, English, French, and Irish volunteers to invade Venezuela. He decided to make an attempt at his own expense. Aided by two American citizens, Col. William S. Smith and a civilian Mr. Samuel Ogden, he equipped three ships with a group of 200 soldiers. Informed of his intent, the Spanish met and defeated Miranda in the Caribbean Sea. Miranda escaped to the West Indies where he prepared another expedition.

Within a few months after his previous defeat, he was able to take the city of Coro. He expected the Venezuelans to welcome him and rise against the Spanish in imitation of the American, French and Haitian revolutionaries. They did not find the necessary support and received a very hostile reponse from the locals at Coro - the mission failed. Miranda called the whole thing off and took refuge in the Antilles and then in London, England.

While in London, Miranda taught mathematics, for he had originally been a mathematician. Among his students were sons of the future leaders in the fight for South American independence, such as: Bernardo O'Higgins (Chilean), Antonio Narino (Colombian), Andres de Santa Cruz (Bolivian), among others. Miranda was living on Grafton Street No. 27, London and with Sarah Andres, who was his housekeeper, had two sons: Leandro and Francisco. It was Napoleon's invasion of the Iberian Peninsula (1808) that set the stage for uprising in Hispanic America.

In addition, Miranda was the creator of the Venezuelan flag. Later Colombia and Ecuador adopted the same colors and its symbols of emancipation from Spain when it was hoisted on his ship "Leonder" (this name inspired by his first son) on March 12, 1806.

In 1810, he met the envoy of revolutionary Venezuela, Simon Bolivar. Bolivar induced Miranda to come back to his native country. They returned together on December 5, 1810, to Caracas, where Miranda organized the government that had its origin in the revolution of April 19, 1810.

Gen. Miranda became Vice-President of the Venezuelan Congress, and he suggested the issue of some bank notes, (which were inspired by the "assignat" of the French Revolution), of the following denominations: 1,2,4,8, and 16 Pesos. In November of 1811, those notes were put into circulation, but dated August 27, 1811. Those bills were printed by Juan Baillo and Luis Delpach, official printers of the government of the First and Second Republic. This first issue had the signature of three notable Venezuelans such as: Juan German Roscio, Bartolome Blandin and Martin Tovar Ponte, and those bills were known popularty as "Roscio, Blandin and Tovar", printed over sealed paper of the republic.