Admiral Andrea Doria (1466-1560)

 Andrea Doria was born into an ancient Genoese family.  At that time, Genoa was dominated by France.  In 1503, Doria participated in the rising against France, compelling them to evacuate the city.  For some years thereafter, he commanded the Genoese fleet, protecting Genoa’s sea lanes from incursions by the Turks and by the Barbary pirates.  In 1522, Genoa fell to the armies of the Holy Roman Empire.  Doria joined with his old enemy, the French, to oppose his new enemy.  The French, with substantial assistance from Doria, defeated the Holy Roman Empire, but then decided to retain Genoa.  Consequently, Doria allied himself with Spain.  With Spanish assistance, Doria succeeded in ousting the French.  He reestablished the Republic of Genoa in 1528.  Doria turned down offers of official political leadership, preferring to serve as an advisor and elder statesman.  He also resumed his previous role as naval commander.  As late as 1552, Doria (then aged 86) led expeditions against the Ottoman Empire and Barbary pirates, but was not always successful.  In his final campaign (1553-1555), Doria led Genoese forces vainly seeking to recapture Corsica from the French.  Admiral Doria died in Genoa on November 25, 1560, just short of his 84th birthday – a venerable age for that time and particularly for someone who had been in continual combat for much of his life.  He established a legend of naval leadership that is celebrated throughout all of Italy.  Two battleships of the Italian Navy have borne his name.  In 1953, the pride of the Italian Line, the luxury passenger liner Andrea Doria, entered service, providing Atlantic crossings between Italy and New York.  Sadly, the ship was lost following a collision with the Swedish passenger ship Stockholm in 1956.