Figure 1.--We know that only the three eldest De Lesseps children accompanied their parents to New York in 1880. The arrived following their trip to Panama. Mathieu who was 10 and his younger brother and sister with their parents appeared in an engraving published in "The Graphic Magazine" (January 1, 1881), meaning that the original photograph was taken in 1880. This was an important news magazine at the time. The technology for reproducing photographs was not yet perfected. Mathieu and his brother Ismaël were still wearing dresses like their sister Ferdinande. Click on the image for more details.

Ferdnand deLesseps had an impressive family of 11 children who survived into adulthood. One child died in infancy. The two oldest childrn were boys. The oldest child Mathieu was born in 1870. Ismaël born in 1871 was the next child. There were six boys in all. The oldest girl was Ferdinande born in 1872. Ther youngest Child was Gisèle born in 1885, Ferdinand's 80th year. Nine of the 11 children are in figure 1 on the previous page and we believe that 5 of the children in figure 1 are boys. Our guess is that in addition to Paul and Robert, the child on the far right, the child on his father's lap, and the child held by the mother are boys.

Mathieu (Pierre) (1870-1953)

Mathieu (Pierre) was born in 1870. Mathieu and his brother and sister with their parents appeared in an engraving published in The Graphic Magazine (1881), At the time the technology for reproducing photographs was not yet perfected. Mathieu and his brother Ismaël were still wearing dresses like their sister Ferdinande. The boys were about 11-10 years old. Their sister was about 9 years old. Mathieu married Jeanne de La FONTAINE SOLARE (1878-1966) in 1902. He died in 1953.

(Ferdinand Marie) Ismaël (1871-1915)

(Ferdinand Marie) Ismaël was born in 1871. Ismaël and his brother and sister with their parents appeared in an engraving published in The Graphic Magazine (1881), At the time the technology for reproducing photographs was not yet perfected. Mathieu and his brother Ismaël were still wearing dresses like their sister Ferdinande. The boys were about 11-10 years old. Their sister was about 9 years old. He married Marie Gabrielle Louise Valentine de La FONTAINE SOLARE (1877-1944) in 1902. He died in 1915.

Ferdinande (Hélène Marie) (1872-1948)

Ferdinande (Hélène Marie) was born in 1872. Ferdinande and her brothers with their parents appeared in an engraving published in The Graphic Magazine (1881), At the time the technology for reproducing photographs was not yet perfected. Mathieu and his brother Ismaël were still wearing dresses like their sister Ferdinande. The boys were about 11-10 years old. Their sister was about 9 years old. She was known in the family as Tototte. She married ép. Ferdinand Marie Philippe de GONTAUT BIRON (1868-98) in 1890. She died in 1948.

Marie Eugénie (1874)

Marie Eugénie died s an infant t about 4 months of age.

Marie Consuelo (1875-1944)

Marie Consuelo was born in 1875. She and Bertrand were twins. She married Prosper Amaury Louis de La GRANGE (1870) in 1897. She died in 1944.

Bertrand (Marie) (1875-1917

Bertrand (Marie) was married in 1875. He married Marguerite Sara FAVRE (1877-1969) in 1902. He died in 1917. The date suggests he died in World War I.

Marie Eugénie Hélène (1876-1958)

Marie Eugénie Hélène ws born in 1876. She married (Cte) (Marie) François (Joseph)du BOUAYS de La BEGASSIèRE (1875-1914) in 1900. The date of death suggests that he was killed in World War I. She died in 1958.

Marie-Solange (1877-1943)

Marie-Solange was born in 1877. She married Fernando (Guillermo German José M.A.) MESIA del BARCO y FITZJAMES-STUART (1881-1948) in 1910. She died in 1943.

Paul (Marie) (1880-1955)

Paul (Marie) was born in 1880. He married (Joséphine Marie) Marguerite de BETHUNE-SULLY (1879-1975) in 1902. Paul like his brother Jacques was a flyer. He was the black sheep of the family. he wasn't killed in World War I. There was a report in the newspapers in 1947 of him being imprisioned in Turkey when he was 63, trying to sell land to the Germans for an airfield so they could bomb Suez!" He died in 1955.

Robert (Georges Marie) (1882-1916)

Robert (Georges Marie) was born in 1882. He married Marthe Josépha Sophie ALLARD (1884-1970) in 1911. He died in 1916, perhaps a World War I casualty. A reader writes, "Being a descendant of Robert de Lesseps, I can confirm that he died during World War I. He was trying to save his soldiers and was considered a war hero." [Crestin-Gudenus]

Jacques (Benjamin Marie) (1883-1927)

Jacques (Benjamin Marie) was born in 1883. He married Theresa Grace MACKENZIE (1890-1946) in 1911. Jacques was a distinuished airman. He died in 1927.

Gisèle (Diane Marie) (1885-1973)

Gisèle (Diane Marie) was born in 1885. She married Louis (Jacques Jean Marie Joseph) LA CAZE (1883-1964) in 1906. She died in 1973.

Sources

Crestin-Gudenus, Charlotte. E-mail message, November 28, 2012.

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Created: December 4, 2003
Last updated: 6:50 AM 11/28/2012