Who was Pasquale de Paoli, and why did James Boswell travel to Corsica to meet him?

Pasquale de Paoli (1725–1807) was a prominent Corsican statesman and patriot who led the struggle for his island's independence from Genoese rule. During his leadership, which began in 1755, he established a democratic constitution, suppressed the system of vendetta, and implemented significant reforms, including the founding of a university and the development of a naval fleet.1

James Boswell traveled to Corsica in the autumn of 1765 specifically to interview Paoli, whom he viewed as a heroic chieftain fighting for his country's liberty. This six-week tour was one of the most original acts of Boswell's life. Following the trip, Boswell published An Account of Corsica, The Journal of a Tour to That Island; and Memoirs of Pascal Paoli in 1768, which brought him widespread fame. By presenting Paoli in a manner reminiscent of the ancient biographer Plutarch, Boswell successfully captured the public's intense interest in the Corsican cause.23