We’re a bit short on famous, or indeed infamous, Frenches but we’ll do our best to ferret them out.
RMS Lusitania
There were two Frenches on board the ill-fated voyage of the Lusitania, which was torpedoed by a German U-Boat on its voyage from New York to Liverpool on 15th May 1915. One died, one survived; for more information please go to our RMS Lusitania page.
RMS Titanic
There were no Frenches on board Titanic when it sunk. There were, by one estimate, 50 people of French nationality. See Encyclopedia Titanica for details.
HMS Victory
Amazingly there were nine Frenches at the Battle of Trafalgar and three of them were on HMS Victory. Please visit our HMS Victory page for more information.
Samuel James French (1821-1898)
He founded a theatrical publishing company in New York and moved to London. His grave is to be found in (Hanwell) Kensington & Chelsea Cemetery. Previously based in Fitzroy Street the bookshop is now in the Royal Court Theatre. The 1881 Census has him living at 75 Addison Road, Kensington. With him were his wife, a grand-daughter and four servants.
Captain Richard French (? – ?)
Leicester Square (or Leicester Field, as it was then called) was famous for duels. One such duel occurred there in 1699 between Captain French and his fellow Irishman Coote. Coote was slain on the spot. French was tried for murder at the Old Bailey but acquitted although he was found guilty of manslaughter.
William French (1846? – 1896)
His grave is to be found in Islington and St Pancras Cemetery. He could well be part of the West Country French diaspora as the probable William French we have found was born in Uplyme and his wife Louisa was born in Bridport.
“Sacred to the memory of William French, aged 50, who lost his life on July 13th. 1896, while saving a dog from drowning in Highgate Ponds. This monument, erected in commemoration of his brave deed, was raised by public subscription and was contributed to by all classes of lovers of dumb animals.”