DEDEL, Solomon (1775-1846). A Danish diplomatist. He was Ambassador to Sweden, Spain and England, and died at London.
DEMION, M. Agent for the Montmorency family, for the Prince de Talleyrand, and for the James Rothschilds. For several years he administered the estates of Valençay.
DENISON, Albert (1805-1860). Second son of the Marquis of Conyngham. Through his mother he inherited a large fortune from his uncle, Denison, and took his name. He was raised to the Peerage as Lord Londesborough in 1850.
DESAGES, Emile (1793-1850). Son of a high official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he entered that office at the age of sixteen. In 1820 he was appointed Secretary of Embassy at Constantinople. In 1830 General Sébastiani then Minister of Foreign Affairs, made him head of the Political Branch of the Department. He retired after 1848 to Menesele in the Charente.
DEVONSHIRE, William, Duke of (1760-1835). He belonged to the Courtenay family. The title being extinct in the elder branch, the Duke succeeded in regaining it, after having proved before the House of Lords in 1831 that by Letters Patent of 1553 Queen Mary had laid down that the title, in default of direct heirs, should pass to collateral branches.
DEVONSHIRE, Marchioness of. Died 1806, daughter of Lord Spencer, married in 1774 the Marquis of Devonshire.
DIANE DE POITIERS (1499-1586). Eldest daughter of Jean de Poitiers Seigneur de Saint-Vallier. Diane married Louis de Brézé, when she was thirteen. She was the favourite of Henri II., who made her Duchesse de Valentinois and gave her the Château d'Anet, one of the finest pieces of architecture of this period.
DIDOT, Firmin (1764-1836). He distinguished himself early in life, by the advances in the art of printing which were due to him. His father and elder brother had already similarly distinguished themselves. He was elected Deputy in 1827. Decorated with the Legion of Honour, he was appointed by King Louis-Philippe, Printer to the King and to the Institut de France.
DINO, Duchesse de (1793-1862). The title borne by the Comtesse Edmond de Périgord from 1815 onwards. It had been granted by the King of Naples to the Prince de Talleyrand, who had so successfully defended his interests at the Congress of Vienna, and M. de Talleyrand bestowed it as a compliment on his niece.
DOLOMIEU, Marquise de (1779-1849). Lady-in-waiting to Queen Maria Amelia, to whom she was most devoted. Madame de Dolomieu was the sister of Madame de Montjoye, Mme. Adélaïde's lady-in-waiting.