Cincinnatus is the namesake of Cincinnati and a role model for public servants everywhere!

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Cincinnati is named after Cincinnatus, but I bet many don't know why! We have General Arthur St. Clair to thank for changing the city's original name from Losantiville which literally meant “The Town Opposite the Mouth of the Licking” in 1790.
For many people, and especially Revolutionary War-era Patriots, Cincinnatus embodied self-sacrifice, patriotic loyalty, integrity, and civic virtue. In particular, his history represented for new Americans the promise of democracy and the possibility of overcoming tyranny.
It made sense to Governor St. Clair, who was the President of the State Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania, to change the name.
As legend goes, Cincinnatus was an ex-politician in Rome around 500 BC. He was retired and became a farmer, as well as a good and wise man who was always eager to assist his fellow Romans.
One day, while working on his farm, he was approached by the Roman military, whom he had commanded in a former career. The soldiers pleaded for him to be their leader because their army was suffering at the hands of enemy soldiers. Under Roman law, the Senate could appoint a dictator for a short period of time to administer speedy wartime decisions.
Cincinnatus promptly left his farm and shouldered his imperial duty. His appointment legally granted him 6 months of power, but he completed his mission in only 16 days!
Instead of living out the next 5 and a half months of his dictatorship in the glory of victory, Cincinnatus immediately surrendered his command to return to his humble farm.
This is what he is remembered for. He was granted absolute power, and he accepted it, but only insofar as it allowed him to serve his country.
Unfortunately, leaders like Cincinnatus are now an endangered species.
For more information on Cincinnatus: en.wikipedia.o...
Story by:
Laura Noyes owner of Riverside Food Tours
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