Henri-Jacques Nompar de Caumont, duc de La Force (5 March 1675 – 20 July 1726) was a French nobleman and

peer Peer may refer to: Sociology * Peer, an equal in age, education or social class; see Peer group * Peer, a member of the peerage; related to the term "peer of the realm" Computing * Peer, one of several functional units in the same layer of a ne ...

, the son of

Jacques-Nompar II de Caumont, duc de La Force Jacques-Nompar II de Caumont, duc de La Force (1632 -1699) was a French nobleman and peer, the son of Jacques de Caumont, Marquis de Boësse (died 1634) and Louise de Saint Georges. He held his late father's title from the age of two until the deat ...

and Suzanne de Beringhen. He was a member of the

Académie française An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosop ...

Marriage and issue

On 19 June 1698 he married Anne Marie Beuzelen de Bosmelet (1668–1752), daughter of Jean Beuzelen, seigneur de Bosmelet and Renée Bouthillier, and by her had four daughters, none of whom survived childhood: * Marie Jeanne Antonine de Caumont La Force (1699–1699) * ''Née'' (infant, died young) de Caumont La Force (1700–1704) * ''Née'' (as above) de Caumont La Force (1701–1702) * ''Née'' (as above) de Caumont La Force (1702–1703) The Museum of Fine Arts, Rouen, calls Anne Marie's painting of 1714, by

François de Troy François de Troy ( 28 February 1645 – 1 May 1730) was a French painter and engraver who became principal painter to King James II in exile at Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Director of the Académie Royale de peinture et de sculpture. Early li ...

, who is taking a peach from a tray presented by a child, as "one of the masterpieces". It notes certain rules of the late critic and painter

Roger de Piles Roger de Piles (7 October 1635 – 5 April 1709) was a French painter, engraver, art critic and diplomat. Life Born in Clamecy, Roger de Piles studied philosophy and theology, and devoted himself to painting. In 1662 he became tutor to Miche ...

were closely followed.

Career

He held the title of duc de Caumont until the death of his father, then assumed the title of duc de La Force at the closing of parliament 5 August 1700. He also held the titles of comte de

Mussidan Mussidan (; oc, Moissida) is a commune in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. Mussidan station has rail connections to Bordeaux, Périgueux, Brive-la-Gaillarde and Limoges. Population Roundup of 16 January 1 ...

baron Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or kn ...

de Castelnau, Caumont, Tunneins, Samazin, Feuillet, Taillebourg, Boësse, Cugnac, Roquepine, Maduran and la Boulaye. He was a colonel of a regiment of his name, as well as a councillor to the councils of

regency A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state '' pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy ...

and finance. In 1712 La Force was a founder and the first patron of the Académie Nationale des Sciences, Belles–Lettres et Arts de Bordeaux. He became a member of the Académie française in 1715, replacing

Fabio Brulart de Sillery Fabio Brulart de Sillery (25 October 1655, château de Pressigny – 20 November 1714, Paris) was a French churchman, bishop of Avranches and bishop of Soissons.''Inventaire, lecture, invention: mélanges de critique et d'histoire''. Bernard Beu ...

. He was elected to seat 7 of the Académie on 19 January 1715 and was received by Abbot Jean d'Estrées on 28 January 1715. He was vice-Chairman of the Board of Finance in 1716, and deputy

finance minister A finance minister is an executive or cabinet position in charge of one or more of government finances, economic policy and financial regulation. A finance minister's portfolio has a large variety of names around the world, such as "treasury", ...

from 1718 to 1719. He had trouble with the

Parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...

for its complicity in the bankruptcy law. He died on 20 July 1726 and he was buried in his duchy in

Périgord Périgord ( , ; ; oc, Peiregòrd / ) is a natural region and former province of France, which corresponds roughly to the current Dordogne department, now forming the northern part of the administrative region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. It is div ...

. He was succeeded by his younger brother, Armand-Nompar. His widow died on 16 November 1752. The Hôtel de La Force, his former residence, stood alongside the Rue du Roi de Sicile, in what is today's

4th arrondissement of Paris The 4th arrondissement of Paris (''IVe arrondissement'') is one of the twenty arrondissements of the capital city of France. In spoken French, this arrondissement is referred to as ''quatrième''. Along with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd arrondissements ...

. The war ministry acquired it in 1754 and in 1780 it became La Force Prison.

Footnotes

Sources

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External links

Henri Jacques Nompar de Caumont La Force
Family tree
Seigneurs de Caumont-La Force
Lineage of the lords of Caumont and Dukes of La Force

History (in French)

Gold-stamped arms of Henri-Jacques-Nompar, duc de Caumont and then duc de La Force

La Force Prisons {{DEFAULTSORT:Caumont, Henri-Jacques Nompar, duc de La Force Caumont, Henri-Jacques Nompar de, duc de La Force Caumont, Henri-Jacques Nompar de, duc de La Force Caumont, Henri-Jacques Nompar de Counts of France Barons of France 17th-century peers of France 18th-century peers of France Members of the Académie Française Members of the French Academy of Sciences French Ministers of Finance