Michael de Kovats (1724-1779)

Hungarian-born American
Revolution Military Hero

During the American Civil War 4 000 Hungarian born American served the Union many as cavalrymen and almost all of them must have known that the U.S. Cavalry was first brought into existence under the command of one Kovacs Mihaly later known as Michael de Kovats a Hungarian nobleman born in Karcag Hungary and who had served as Hussar officer in the Royal Austrian- Hungarian Cavalry under the command of Empress Maria Theresa and later as Captain with the great Prussian Cavalry of Frederick the Great. Michael de Kovats informed about the American revolutionary uprising went to Paris to offer his military services to America via Ambassador Benjamin Franklin who was also responsible for seeking French financial and military assistance for the war against the British monarchy. He was given a deed and citizenship and upon arriving in America the Congress of the Thirteen Free States of America gave him the title Colonel-Commander of the Pulaski Legion named after the Polish-born American Revolutionary hero. He was killed in battle two years later at Charleston and became known as the first Hungarian American to die as a Hero of the American Revolution. Another 140 Hungarians fought as Americans in the revolution not including those who might have served with the donated French troops. Michael de Kovats once wrote in a letter to Benjamin Franklin "Golden freedom cannot be bought with Yellow Gold".