Everything I know about Louis De Végobre 1/? Part(s)
(I'm sure I'm forgetting some details hahaha)
Pierre-Louis-Joshep Antonie Manöel de Végobre, born on November 12, 1752, in Geneva, Switzerland, and died sometime in 1840, was a professor, lawyer, magistrate, and writer. (Although he excelled in other activities throughout his life.)
He was the son of Charles Manoël de Végobre and Louise de Vignolles-de-La-Valette. (I don't know why I find it funny that parents have named their children after other genders. Charles = Charlotte; Louise = Louis)
The surname "De Végobre" was invented by C. De Végobre; his original surname is Manoël. A possible reason: to hide his identity. Louis De Végobre's father was embroiled in several controversies, so much so that his entire family was banned from practicing as state lawyers. (But don't worry because Louis ended up being a judge).
He was the second of six children, but his eldest brother died when Louis de Végobre was about 4 years old. (His mother became pregnant 15 times, but only 6 of them were successful.) Like John Laurens, not all of his siblings survived. Only Anne-Charlotte (September 4, 1754–1840) and Phillipe (June 24, 1762–May 2, 1778). (Phillipe died tragically at the age of 16.)
When Louis was 11, his parents left Geneva with Phillipe, leaving him in the care of his sister Charlotte, who was 9 years old.
I could write another post about that, but in general terms: Charles de Végobre was a very active and provocative Protestant. That's why the King of France wanted to kill him. Charles became close friends with Voltaire and, along with other men, became direct rivals of Catholic France.
Charles de Végobre fled because he was wanted (they even called him "the destroyer of worlds") . The reason he didn't take Louis was because he had a chronic respiratory illness (asthma or something similar). This is briefly mentioned in a letter to Voltaire. He didn't take Charlotte so her brother wouldn't be alone - a really bad idea. 9- and 11-year-olds alone, what could happen?
In 1763, De Végobre began working in a library to pay off his father's debts. Some time later (I don't know exactly when, no one specifies) he ends up being arrested in order to make him confess where his father was.
Apparently it was all for nothing, because he spent part of his adolescence on parole and doing forced labor. (until approx 14 years old).
Four or five families paid for his freedom, of which we must remember three names: Chais, Chauvet and Naville.
Jean Antonie Chais: He was John's first tutor when he arrived in Geneva. He taught classics, philosophy, and Latin. You're probably familiar with him. Both, John and Louis, got angry with him over some issue (more on that in another post). My God, I must make so many posts...
David Chauvet: John's second tutor in Geneva. He was a close friend of Henry. He was supposed to be his first tutor, but the residence was full. He recommended De Végobre as John's mathematics tutor.
André Naville: André Naville: He was the father of François Andrés Naville, a schoolmate of Louis. Basically, it was a wealthy family of lawyers and merchants. André Naville ended up "hiring" Louis for some unknown job (I assume a secretary?). By this point, François and Louis had become best friends (Maybe more than frinds at this point?) I don't know what to think. François was a jealous frind. (Said by acquaintances).
At some point in their lives, Louis and François began studying law at the Geneva Academy (now the University of Geneva). Louis wanted to study mathematics and natural philosophy (physics), but he couldn't afford it. There were scholarships in Geneva, but the king forbade the De Végobre family from having one. (Geneva was not independent at that time.) Even a minister of the king went so far as to say that his family would never be considered even bourgeois.
There the group of friends that John Laurens would later join was formed: Marc Auguste Pictet, Albert Turrettini, Pierre Prevost, (?) Martin and François Naville. Later: Kinloch, Müller, Bonstteten and Manigault.
At another, unknown point in his life, Louis began tutoring young boys (including Laurens - 1772) in mathematics. Prevost was studying physics, and with Pictet and De Végobre, they often spent their free time researching physics.
As for his romantic relationships, he never married. Nor did he seem interested in any woman (and Voltaire tried to marry him off to a girl). In my opinion (I'm open to other opinions), Louis only had a serious relationship with Naville. Perhaps I could argue for a brief relationship with Laurens.
According to what friends of both casually say, the two were inseparable: Naville wrote poems for him (Pictet once said) no poem found. De Végobre mentions in the epilogue of a book that Naville would have fits of rage and burn all his work and correspondence. Louis tried to save the papers.
François and Louis often argued because François was a Protestant, active, and very provocative (like Charles de Végobre). François also loved getting involved in politics.
At first, neither of them wanted to get married. In the end, François's father married him at the age of 31 to Anne Renée Gallatin (21 years old). The marriage did not go too well, but they had four children (3 boys and a girl).
Before François was murdered, Anne used to argue with François because he spent more time with Louis (information from the draft of the introductory speech to Naville's posthumous work). Even Anne asked Louis not to publish the first version he had written of this work (Discours pour servir d'introduction à un ouvrage posthume de François-André Naville, ci-devant conseiller d'état de la république de Genève) because it was "too personal" and could "tarnish" the family name. He makes a brief reference to this conflict, which is so widely discussed among his acquaintances, on the first page.
Mr. Naville's family felt it was more appropriate to postpone the publication of this work at the very least; I initially believed the reason for this decision would be the Preliminary Discourse. This was also the advice he gave me, which provoked a well-founded timidity.
However, after hesitating for a long time, I follow the advice of my friends. Their opinions are of great importance to me: I surrender to the sense of duty that long prompted me to pay this funeral tribute to the memory of my friend and to that of the virtuous Magistrates who perished with him.
If I present this Discourse as it was originally composed, without deleting the first two parts, which deal only with my friend, it is because these two parts are not unrelated to his praise, which is my main objective.
A brief reading of that work reveals part of their relationship (although it's quite censored, thanks Anne for screwing up the evidence). I can also understand Anne's point.
It is not, however, before the public that I wish to shed these tears with which I water the grave the ashes of my friends [...]
It is not to the ears of a frivolous public that I wish to make my laments heard for the crimes that have stained and for the catastrophe that has erased from the ranks of nations such a beloved homeland. But it is to the friends of the victims that I mourn, to the Genevans whose hearts respond to mine, to whom I present as a gift this faint expression of the feelings I experience and which it is sweet to find among them.
Throughout the book he tells some anecdotes, this is only part of the first page.
Someone argued with me on Wattpad that Louis was engaged because he's wearing a ring in his Minister portrait. I have several arguments about this:
Maybe that ring is a signet ring. Very common among officials and men of high status (for exenple Henry Laurens). This idea is the most appropriate
Many men wore a ring to avoid questions about their single status. However, De Végobre didn't care about the opinions of others, so this option is unlikely. I mean, just look at the way he expresses himself in his travel guide. He knew it was going to be published, and yet he still wrote ironic things—imagine in his private life.
Maybe something personal. (It could be Naville's ring; he was murdered, and De Végobre kept some of his belongings.) I mean, Naville entrusted him with the education of his children in his will, I don't see the ring as so crazy.
Another option is that he wears a ring without reason, but he is a simple man and he didn't like those things.
This painting is in the library of the University of Geneva. If you go there, they'll show it to you without any problem! (They finally took the opportunity to upload it online in better quality.)
The only time Naville and de Végobre distanced themselves after an argument was, coincidentally, in 1772 and later. Who was in Geneva at that time? That's right: John Laurens.
Those of you who know em from Wattpad already know that I'm not a believer in the Kinloch-De Végobre relationship (with or without Manigault). For me, it didn't existeix, no in same way that her relationship with Laurens or Naville did. I compareu a lot of correspondence between these men. Even I think Kinloch sometimes felt jealous of the De Vegobre-Laurens relationship. Jealous, or perhaps displaced. I believe, evidently, that the Laurens-Kinloch relationship existed.
You've all read De Végobre's letters to Laurens, in fact, there's one not available online from 1781. De Végobre isn't so affectionate with everyone, he's friendly and kind, but there's a big difference.What part should we highlight from their correspondence? «Mon cher, Laurens»,
You have began to make me feeling how hard it is to fee the departure of a man to whoms one's heart ir addicted, others will do the same with me; all is not happines. Engish Friends. I will, i will see you in your country, before i die! [...]
Adieu, I don't know if I in this language I have been able to explain my hart's true sentiments; you shall see in thos letter my knowledge in your tongue; you will laugh at my mistakes in the Grammar, but not at my sentiments. Adieu
De végobre to Laurens, 24 dec. 1774
I want to write another post analyzing letters! This one is supposed to be only about De Végobre!
There is also another interesting figure in his life: Samuel Vincent, a student of his whose theology studies De Végobre helped pay for around 1800. He also deserves a separate post.
Sir, here is another sign of life. It is true that you may sometimes doubt whether I am alive, but you must never doubt whether I love you. You will find my friendship too calm, no doubt, and not very active; alas! It is in keeping with the rest of my character. It is no less sincere and lively for that. Thus, she eagerly seized upon the hope you gave me in a corner of your letter to let you flow toward Languedoc. Since it is the slope that guides you, remember that once you reach Nîmes, you must remain there still and not climb to the heights. The Cévennes should no longer be the sole destination of your travels to Languedoc. I stand in your way, ready to seize you by the throat. When I have detained you long enough in Nîmes and you wish to leave in spite of me, I will quickly go and ambush you at Gajan and catch you when you least expect it. If you escape from me again, who knows? Depending on the weather, I might chase you all the way to the Cévennes or force you back down. May I soon enjoy this happiness, and may I join in the memory. [...]
If you want to know anything about my family, I'll tell you that we're all fine, that we all love you, that we all wish you the same love I've shown you. Yours completely devoted: Pastor S Vincent
Samuel Vincent to Louis De Végobre 8 of March 1810.
I must admit that in the last sentence he makes a slightly strange use of French words, but I didn't pay attention to it. I know there are people who think they were more than friends. I haven't found any evidence to support this claim.
Also in another letter he wrote these verses by Voltaire:
De tous mes sentiments tel est le caractère,
Je veux avec excès vous aimer et vous plaire.
While one of your letters should answer half a dozen of mine, here's one of mine that answers two of yours. And to give Voltaire's verses their true meaning:
Of all my feelings such is the character,
I want to love you and please you excessively.
But laziness destroys in me what is good in the will. As long as you don't doubt my feelings, I will do justice to the reproaches you make me. I recently decided to no longer make excuses for my carelessness in writing. When one writes as little as I do, one shouldn't spend half of that little time making useless excuses, always the same ones.
All my relatives, all your friends, shower you with their compliments and their blessings. And I join them in wishing you joy and health. This could be most agreeable to your friend and devoted disciple
Vincent to De Vegobre, 6 May 1810
They often shared topics and opinions about the Church in their letters. De Végobre even offered Vincent a teaching job, but he turned it down because he considered himself too young to accept it.
Personally, I don't see them as a couple, but I'm glad to know that De Végobre had friendships after Naville's death!
After Naville's death in 1794, he became depressed. He even said he would have liked to die beside him. He later wrote that it would have been better for him to die instead of Naville (because François was a father and husband).
To avoid getting too involved in political matters, I'll give you some brief background. Naville was often the spokesperson for any political opinion opposed to the monarchy or established regimes. De Végobre was much more quiet, preferring to avoid the topics that had caused so much damage to his family.
Louis had to leave to Vaud in 1781, seeking refuge in the home of Albert Turrettini (where he served as tutor to Turrettini's son), again due to matters involving his father. He had to flee in an emergency, he left without packing anything. His parents died around 1794, but that wasn't the end of it.
When 1793-1794 (Le Terreur) arrived, he was again imprisoned (this time with Naville). His house in Pâquis was burned, and he lost the entire fortune he had managed to amass over the past few years. Several trials followed. First, Louis's, where he was acquitted and granted parole. Immediately after, Naville's, where he was sentenced to death and shot in front of de Végobre. This was too shocking for him, and it kept him distant for the rest of his life (said Pictet).
For the rest of his life, for 45 years, he limited himself to studying and working. No further mention has been made of any friendships or close interactions outside of work. His only correspondence was with Vincent during 1810.
Finally, some professional information about him is that he was so good at physics that he was Pictet's substitute professor at the University of Geneva, helping scientists and mathematicians with their work. (He was literally a human calculator.) As for his legal career, he was a magistrate and judge. He and his sister founded an association to provide legal aid to orphaned minors and prostitutes. (His sister was the founder of the orphanage, and he had been teaching the children there since before 1780.)
He also published several works explaining how to structure the legal system of the independent Republic of Geneva and other places (specifically Vaud).
I'll write a second part! Feel free to write me any questions or concerns. I'll be happy to answer! Thanks for welcoming me so warmly to Tumblr!
