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Who Are The Only 8 Honorary Citizens In The History Of The United States?
It’s really difficult to gain honorary American citizenship
The government of the United States has long closely overseen citizenship status. People born outside of the country can still become official citizens, but typically have to go through a rigorous process to reach eligibility. In the history of the country, there have been only a total of eight people who have been designated as honorary citizens. Who are they?
According to Everycrsreport.com honorary American citizenship is:
“A private law to grant citizenship should not be confused with honorary citizenship. Honorary citizenship is a rare and extraordinary honor granted to foreigners who have rendered great service. Only a handful of individuals have received this honor…
“Honorary citizenship “is a symbolic gesture. It does not grant any additional legal rights in the United States or in international law. It also does not impose additional duties or responsibilities, in the United States or internationally, on the honoree. It does not give the recipient any voting privileges.”
The exceptionally rare instances where honorary citizenship is granted is done at the behest of the President and Congress. It is so rare that in the nearly 250-year history of the country only eight people have been tapped for the distinction. They include:
- Bernardo de Galvez: As interim governor of Louisiana under Spanish rule, Galvez played a key role in supporting the American Revolution from his position. He helped coordinate campaigns against the British and smuggled goods to the Patriots, which in turn secured pivotal victories that significantly impacted the war’s outcome. George Washington himself acknowledged Galvez’s influence, emphasizing his crucial assistance. However, it wasn’t until 2014 that the United States conferred his citizenship status — a mere 228 years after his death.
- Casimir Pulaski: Another key figure of the American Revolution, Pulaski was a skilled Polish military strategist who fought valiantly for American independence. He not only was credited with saving George Washington’s life during the Battle of Brandywine, he also wrote the literal book…
