Chevalier De Rivafinoli

Count Chevalier De Rivafinoli came to Charlotte in 1829-1830 as a representative of a London mining mining firm that was interested in investing in Charlotte's gold mines. He leased several of the area mines and operated others. When he came to Charlotte he brought with him experienced miners and seventy to eighty workers. Count De Rivafinoli was an Italian nobleman and he was noted for his lavish lifestyle. It is thought that he served under Napoleon. He and his large houskeeping staff lived in an impressive home at the corner of South Tryon and West Morehead Streets. The expertise of the experienced miners that De Rivafinoli brought to the area introduced many improvements to the mining industry and allowed opening of mines and extraction of ores that had not been possible with earlier techniques.