Craufurd, Quentin |
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BORN 22 Sep 1743, Kilwinning, North Ayrshire - DIED 23 Nov 1819, Paris: 1e Ancien BIRTH NAME Craufurd, Quintin GRAVE LOCATION Paris: Père Lachaise, Rue du Repos 16 (Division 41, chemin des Anglais, ligne 01 (Craufurd pyramid)) |
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Quentin Craufurd came from a noble Scottish family. He joined the British East India when he was eighteen years old and he mostly lived in India. He made a fortune and during a tour of Europe he decided to settle in Paris. During his last stay in India he met Eleanore Sullivan-Franchi. She was married to an army officer, but she became his mistress and accompanied him to France. In Paris he was received at Court, but he also befriended Mme de Staël and Talleyrand. In Versailles he was introduced to the circle around queen Marie-Antoinette and there he Alexander Fersen, who became Elenora's lover. In 1790 he published an essay on his experiences in India. In June 1791 Eleonore provided the money that Fersen used to organise the flight of the Royal Family to Austria, but the company was stopped in Varennes. Craufurd visited Marie-Antoinette under a false name in the Temple in 1792 before he left France. With Eleanore he lived in Brussels, Aix-en-Chapelle in 1794, Frankfurt am Main in 1796 and Vienna until 1802. He had asked the Directoire permission to return to France in 1799 but it was denied. After the Peace of Amiens in 1802 he was allowed to return France. They moved to Paris and they married. Craufurd bought the Hôtel de Matignon in 1804. Napoleon did not like the couple, but he was under the protection of Talleyrand and Eleanore became a confidante of Joséphine de Beauharnais. In 1807 he sold the Hôtel de Matignon to Talleyrand and they moved a house at the rue d'Anjou. After 1815 the Duke of Wellington helped him to recover assets that had been confiscated during the French Revolution and he became even richer. He died in 1819 in Paris and he was buried at Père Lachaise. Related persons • has a connection with Beauharnais, Joséphine de • was a friend of Marie Antoinette, queen of France • advised Marie Antoinette, queen of France |
| Images |
 The grave of Quintin Craufurd at the Cimetière du Père Lachaise, Paris. Picture by Androom (08 Feb 2025) |
Sources • Quintin Craufurd - Wikipedia (EN) • Quentin Craufurd - Wikipédia (FR) • Cimetière du Père Lachaise - APPL - CRAUFURD Quintin (1743-1819) |
