Wednesday 18 May 2011

The Guillon LeThière Family

I'm now quite satisfied that the 'Baron Saint Leger' and Auguste Guillon LeThière (1796-1865), the husband of Adèle Sophie Bizet d’Egville, are the same person. His father was Guillaume Guillon LeThière (1760-1832) but I'm unsure of the identity of his mother. It wasn't the mother of Guillaume's youngest son Lucien, Marie-Joseph Honorée Vanzenne (1763-1832), as they didn't marry until 1799.

Guillaume Guillon supported the revolution and was a friend of Jaques-Louis David, who provides a tenuous connection to James Harvey d'Egville. Guillaume was renowned for his quick temper. When he believed some soldiers had insulted his moustache he drew his sword and several soldiers were killed in the brawl. Lucien Bonaparte intervened and as a result Guillaume was appointed director of the French Academy in Rome.

While in Rome members of the Guillon family were vividly portrayed in pencil by Jean Auguste Ingres. His draughtsmanship is crisp but Ingres' paintings almost breathe so it is great pity that none of this family became his subjects on canvas.

Guillaume Guillon LeThière


Madame Guillon LeThière



The Alexandre Guillon LeThière Family

Auguste Guillon LeThière

1 comment:

  1. Hello,
    I have been interested in reading your research of Baron Guillon Saint Leger. Whilst no relation of mine, he is shown as a witness on the marriage certificate of my great, great, great grandfather in Brighton in 1836. The exact wording for the witness on the marriage certificate is “Comte & Baron Guillon St. Leger”.
    I wanted to get in touch just to find out if you know if he had connections in Brighton, or lived there even? Myself and another family member have been doing some family research and are looking into all elements of our relatives life and I thought I would email you on the off chance to see if you had any additional information. Best regards, Sue

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