Jean de Noailles facts for kids

Jean-Louis-Paul-François de Noailles, the 5th Duke of Noailles, was a French nobleman and a talented scientist. He was born in Paris on October 26, 1739, and passed away on October 20, 1824.

Early Life and Achievements

Jean de Noailles was the son of Louis, the 4th Duke of Noailles, and Cathérine Françoise Charlotte de Cossé-Brissac. His father was a very important military leader, becoming a Marshal of France in 1775. Jean also had famous relatives, including his great-aunt, Madame de Maintenon, who was a close friend of Louis XIV of France.

Jean served in the army for a while. However, he became well-known for his work as a chemist. Because of his scientific skills, he was chosen to be a member of the Académie des sciences in 1777. He was also honored as a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

He inherited important titles during his life. He became the Duke of Ayen in 1766 when his grandfather died. Later, in 1793, he became the Duke of Noailles after his father passed away.

Life During the French Revolution

The French Revolution was a very difficult time in France. As a member of the royal military, Jean de Noailles was often away from his family's estates. This distance actually kept him safe from being arrested. Many of his relatives were arrested by order of Maximilien Robespierre in May 1794.

Sadly, on July 22, 1794, Jean's 70-year-old mother, his wife, and his eldest daughter, Louise, were condemned to death. They were all executed by the guillotine. His second daughter, Adrienne de La Fayette, was also condemned. However, she was saved at the very last moment. James Monroe, who later became an American president, helped her. He did this because Adrienne's husband had greatly helped America during the American Revolutionary War. Adrienne saw her grandmother, mother, and sister executed. Jean learned about their deaths weeks later. Many other family members, including uncles and cousins, also died during the Revolution.

After these terrible events, Jean de Noailles went to live in Switzerland. He stayed there until 1814, when the monarchy was restored in France. He then returned to France and became a Peer of France. His daughter Adrienne worked hard to get some of their family's wealth back, as much had been lost during the Revolution.

Family Life

A portrait of Jean's first wife, the Duchess of Noailles, painted by Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun in 1789.

On February 25, 1755, Jean de Noailles married Henriette Anne Louise d'Aguesseau. This was an arranged marriage, meaning their families decided they should marry. Henriette was the daughter of a wealthy family. Her grandfather had been a Chancellor of France three times.

Jean and Henriette lived in the family home in Paris, called the Hôtel de Noailles. They had eight children together:

• Adrien Paul Louis de Noailles (1756–1757), who died as a baby.
• Anne Jeanne Baptiste Louise de Noailles (1758–1794), who married her cousin.
• Marie-Adrienne-Françoise de Noailles (1759–1807), who married Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette.
• A daughter (born and died in 1760), who died at birth.
• Françoise Antoinette Louise de Noailles (1763–1788).
• Anne Paule Dominique de Noailles (1766–1839).
• Angélique Françoise d'Assise Rosalie de Noailles (1767–1833).
• Louis Gabriel de Noailles (1768–1770), who also died as a baby.

In 1796, Jean de Noailles married again to Baroness Wilhelmine Justine of Mosheim. However, they did not have any more children. Out of his eight children from his first marriage, only two survived him. Since he had no living sons, his grandnephew, Paul de Noailles, became the next Duke of Noailles.

See also

In Spanish: Jean de Noailles para niños