Page "Margaret Fuller" Paragraph 15

In the spring of 1846, she met Giuseppe Mazzini in England, who had been in exile from Italy since 1837.

Fuller also met the Italian revolutionary Giovanni Angelo Ossoli, a marquis who had been disinherited by his family because of his support for Mazzini.

Fuller and Ossoli moved in together in Florence, Italy, likely before they were married, if they ever were.

Fuller originally did not support marrying him, in part because of their different religions ; she was Protestant and he was Roman Catholic.

Emerson speculated that the couple was " married perhaps in Oct. Nov. or Dec " of 1847, though he did not explain his reasoning.

Biographers have speculated that the couple married on April 4, 1848, to celebrate the anniversary of their first meeting.

By the time the couple moved to Florence, they were referred to as husband and wife, though it is unclear if any formal ceremony took place.

It seems certain that at the time their child was born, they were not married.

By New Year's Day 1848, she suspected that she was pregnant but kept it from Ossoli for several weeks.

Their child, Angelo Eugene Philip Ossoli, was born in early September 1848 ; they nicknamed him Angelino.

The couple was very secretive about their relationship but, after Angelino suffered an unnamed illness, they became closer.

Fuller finally informed her mother about Ossoli and Angelino in August 1849.

The letter explained that she had kept silent so as not to upset her " but it has become necessary, on account of the child, for us to live publicly and permanently together.

" Her mother's response makes it clear that she was aware that a legal marriage had not taken place.

Even so, she was happy for her daughter, writing: " I send my first kiss with my fervent blessing to my grandson.

" Modern biographers are still unclear if Fuller and Ossoli ever married.