Men of the Time, eleventh edition/Rossetti, Constantine
ROSSETTI, Constantine, poet and revolutionary writer, born at Bucharest, about 1816, after serving in the militia from 1836 till 1838, devoted himself to letters. His first attempts were translations from Byron, Voltaire, and Lamartine, and in 1840 he published a collection of songs in the dialect of Roumania, several of which became popular. He was Chief of the Police of Pitesti in 1842; became Procurator at the Civil tribunal of Bucharest, which he resigned in 1846, went to reside at Paris, and married Mary Grant, an Englishwoman. Though of aristocratic descent, he was early imbued with democratic opinions, and, to the surprise of the Boyards, opened a bookseller's shop in 1846 at Bucharest. The same year he was elected a member of the Revolutionaiy Committee of Roumania; was arrested by the police, June 9, rescued next day by the people, and revenged himself on Prince Bibesco, by saving him from the fury of the insurgents. This generous action was greatly applauded by the people, who bore Rossetti in triumph. He was made Chief of the Police at Bucharest, and afterwards Director of the Ministry of the Interior. It was at this time he founded a democratic newspaper, styled the Nurse of Roumania. In September he was sent to the camp of Fuad Effendi to protest against the establish ment of the organic rule, was arrested with his companions, and transported to Orsova, and his wife, by her heroic efforts, effected his deliverance. In 1850 he took refuge in Paris, where he established various newspapers, and published several works supporting the cause of his country. Rossetti returned to his native country, and was in 1861 Minister of Public Instruction and of Worship at Jassy. A Liberal Deputy in the reign of Prince Charles, he was elected President of the Chamber in Nov., 1876, and, in concert with M. Bratiano, he induced Roumania to proclaim her independence, and to enter into an alliance with Russia, in order to make war on Turkey. In 1878 he was nominated Minister of the Interior, and he held that poet till Aug., 1880.