Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian general, revolutionary, and politician. He was one of the key figures in the unification of Italy, also known as the Risorgimento. Born into the family of a seafarer, Giuseppe Garibaldi spent his childhood and youth at sea, at first as a cabin boy and later as a sailor on both merchant and military ships. As a young man, he became interested in politics. Inspired by the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity, he joined the secret Young Italy movement. After participating in a failed uprising in Piedmont, Giuseppe Garibaldi was sentenced to death but escaped to South America. There, he spent 15 years in exile, during which he took part in independence wars. Later, he returned to Italy amidst the turmoil of revolutions. He contributed to the revolution, was imprisoned for a short time, but was eventually released because of his immense popularity.

Later, Giuseppe Garibaldi took part in the rebellion against the Austrian occupation and headed the famous Expedition of the Thousand that liberated southern Italy. He also tried to overthrow the Pope.

Alexander Herzen met Giuseppe Garibaldi in 1854 when his ship docked in the West Indies. At that time, Garibaldi and his followers planned to organize a fleet of exiled revolutionaries from around the world — “a floating revolution, ready to put in at any shore, independent and unassailable.” Alexander Herzen was impressed by the Italian revolutionary as can be seen from the way he described him — “a Hercules” and “the last hero.”

Alexander Herzen described the Italian general’s outfit,