Philip Mazzei

Mazzei, Philip (1730–1816), Italian-born U.S. patriot. A physician and wine merchant, Mazzei came to the United States in 1773 and was befriended by Thomas Jefferson. In the years before the American Revolution, he wrote articles calling for independence that Jefferson translated into English. During the war he was sent on an intelligence-gathering mission to Italy. In 1796, while living in France, Mazzei received a letter from Jefferson that was critical of the Federalist government; it caused a political uproar on publication.