Louis-Marie, vicomte de Noailles
Encyclopedia
Louis-Marie, vicomte de Noailles (17 April 1756 Paris
– 9 January 1804 Havana
) was the second son of Philippe, duc de Mouchy, and a member of Mouchy
branch of the famous Noailles family of the French
aristocracy
.
He served brilliantly under Lafayette in America, and was the officer who concluded the capitulation of Yorktown in 1781.
He was elected to the Estates-General
in 1789. On 4 August 1789, during the French Revolution
, he began the famous "orgy", as Mirabeau called it, when all privileges were abolished, and with the duc d'Aiguilion
proposed the abolition of titles and liveries
in June 1790.
When the Revolution became more pronounced he emigrated to the United States
and became a partner in William Bingham
's Bank of North America
in Philadelphia. He was very successful and might have lived happily had he not accepted a command against the English
in San Domingo, under Rochambeau. He made a brilliant defence of the Môle St Nicholas and escaped with the garrison to Cuba
, but en route there his ship was attacked by the English frigate Hazard, and after a long engagement he was severely wounded, dying of his wounds in Havana
on 9 January 1804.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
– 9 January 1804 Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
) was the second son of Philippe, duc de Mouchy, and a member of Mouchy
Duc de Mouchy
The title of duke of Mouchy was a French peerage held by members of a cadet branch of the Noailles family.The founder of the branch, Philippe, comte de Noailles , was the younger brother of Louis, 4th duc de Noailles and a marshal of France....
branch of the famous Noailles family of the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
.
He served brilliantly under Lafayette in America, and was the officer who concluded the capitulation of Yorktown in 1781.
He was elected to the Estates-General
Estates-General of 1789
The Estates-General of 1789 was the first meeting since 1614 of the French Estates-General, a general assembly representing the French estates of the realm: the nobility, the Church, and the common people...
in 1789. On 4 August 1789, during the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, he began the famous "orgy", as Mirabeau called it, when all privileges were abolished, and with the duc d'Aiguilion
Armand, duc d'Aiguillon
Armand II de Vignerot du Plessis de Richelieu, duke of Aiguillon succeeded his father Emmanuel-Armand de Richelieu, duc d'Aiguillon....
proposed the abolition of titles and liveries
Livery
A livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in...
in June 1790.
When the Revolution became more pronounced he emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and became a partner in William Bingham
William Bingham
William Bingham was an American statesman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress from 1786 to 1788 and served in the United States Senate from 1795 to 1801...
's Bank of North America
Bank of North America
The Bank of North America was a private business chartered on December 31, 1781 by the Congress of the Confederation and opened on January 7, 1782, at the prodding of Superintendent of Finance Robert Morris. This was thus the nation's first de facto central bank. It was succeeded in its role as...
in Philadelphia. He was very successful and might have lived happily had he not accepted a command against the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in San Domingo, under Rochambeau. He made a brilliant defence of the Môle St Nicholas and escaped with the garrison to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, but en route there his ship was attacked by the English frigate Hazard, and after a long engagement he was severely wounded, dying of his wounds in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
on 9 January 1804.