François-Didier Petit De Meurville

Place: Saint-Domingue

Born: 1793

Death: 1873

Biography:

Didier Petit de Meurville was a French entrepreneur, diplomat, and artist. He was born on December 6, 1793, in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti). His father was an arpenteur général and owned several plantations. Didier Petit de Meurville developed a strong sense of art and entrepreneurship from a young age. He created a line of steamboats to facilitate Spanish immigration to French Algeria and promoted trade, particularly in cod. He also opened a factory specializing in paramentics in 1822. Additionally, he was a collector of antiquities and had a renowned cabinet that required permission to visit. Didier Petit de Meurville served as Vice-Consul in Alicante from 1848 and Consul of France in San Sebastián from 1857 to 1872. He helped his friend Charles de Bourbon, the pretender to the throne, during their exile in France. As a diplomat, he painted scenes of the places where he served, showcasing his artistic skills. Didier Petit de Meurville was also a botanist and created various works of art, including paintings, watercolors, and drawings. He passed away in 1873.