French Famous Names Starting with Letter L

Was a French composer and music publisher. His family was of Maltese origin. He is the author of ope

Was a French composer and music publisher. His family was of Maltese origin. He is the author of operettas, ballets, numerous popular songs, and over one hundred and fifty pianoforte pieces for two, four, and six hands.

Was a Catalan musician of Italian extraction who wrote under the nom de plume Louiguy. He wrote the

Was a Catalan musician of Italian extraction who wrote under the nom de plume Louiguy. He wrote the melody for Édith Piaf's lyrics of "La Vie en Rose" and the Latin jazz composition made famous in English as "Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)", which was recast as a resounding mambo hit for Pérez Prado.

Was a French officer and explorer who claimed the Côte d'Ivoire for France. In 1892 he returned to

Was a French officer and explorer who claimed the Côte d'Ivoire for France. In 1892 he returned to the Guinea Coast to superintend the forming of the boundaries between the British and French colonies. In 1893 Binger was appointed governor of the Côte d'Ivoire.

Was the founder of Mouchel, one of the United Kingdom's largest engineering consultancies. In 1875 h

Was the founder of Mouchel, one of the United Kingdom's largest engineering consultancies. In 1875 he moved to Briton Ferry in Wales and formed the Cardiff Washed Coal & Fuel Company.[1] He became the agent for a system of reinforced concrete developed by François Hennebique which he referred to as ferroconcrete.[1]

Was a French Romantic composer, best known for his compositions Symphonie fantastique and Grande Mes

Was a French Romantic composer, best known for his compositions Symphonie fantastique and Grande Messe des morts (Requiem). Berlioz made great contributions to the modern orchestra with his Treatise on Instrumentation and by utilizing huge orchestral forces for his works, sometimes calling for over 1,000 performers.[1] At the other extreme, he also composed around 50 songs for voice and piano.

Was a prominent French financial lawyer, politician, and member of the Académie française. Barboux

Was a prominent French financial lawyer, politician, and member of the Académie française. Barboux was the lawyer for Sarah Bernhardt in her 1880 breach-of-contract suit against the Comédie-Française, and famously represented canal developer Ferdinand de Lesseps in the court trials of the financial Panama scandals beginning in 1892.

Was a French football defender and manager. He notably played for Real Madrid.

Was a French football defender and manager. He notably played for Real Madrid.

Was a French weightlifter and Olympic champion. He won a gold medal at the 1932 Summer Olympics in L

Was a French weightlifter and Olympic champion. He won a gold medal at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and again at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.

Was a French Army general, the first Resident-General in Morocco from 1912 to 1925 and from 1921 Mar

Was a French Army general, the first Resident-General in Morocco from 1912 to 1925 and from 1921 Marshal of France.He graduated from the French military academy of Saint-Cyr in 1873. He made his career by serving in the colonies and not in the more presti

Was a French sailor and explorer. Duperrey joined the navy in 1800, and served as marine hydrologist

Was a French sailor and explorer. Duperrey joined the navy in 1800, and served as marine hydrologist to Louis Claude de Saulces de Freycinet aboard the Uranie (1817–1895). He commanded La Coquille on its circumnavigation of the earth (1822–1825) with Jules Dumont d'Urville as third.

Was a French film director. Gasnier's career declined with the advent of sound, and he was later con

Was a French film director. Gasnier's career declined with the advent of sound, and he was later confined to making low-budget B movies. Arguably his most famous film, although not for artistic reasons, is the anti-marijuana opus Reefer Madness, made in 1936. The film's over-preachy, over-the-top propaganda message has earned it a dedicated cult following, which remains strong to the present day.

Was a French aviator and industrialist, born at Châteauroux (Indre) in 1868 who was the second husb

Was a French aviator and industrialist, born at Châteauroux (Indre) in 1868 who was the second husband of society beauty Consuelo Vanderbilt, Duchess of Marlborough. He married her immediately after her divorce from the 9th Duke of Marlborough in 1921.

Is a Senegalese politician, and was a candidate in the February 2007 presidential election. He was t

Is a Senegalese politician, and was a candidate in the February 2007 presidential election. He was the candidate of the Senegalese People's Liberal Movement (MLPS). Senghor is the grandson of the first Senegalese president, Leopold Sedar Senghor.

Was a French lawyer and politician, and chief of Prime Minister Raymond Poincaré's office. He serve

Was a French lawyer and politician, and chief of Prime Minister Raymond Poincaré's office. He served as High Commissioner for the Navy in the provisional governments at Algiers and Paris, Minister of State for Muslim Affairs (1945), Minister of Marine (Navy)) (1947), Minister of Veterans and War Victims (1949), Minister of Overseas France (1951-52 and 1953-54).

Was a French organist and composer.Lefébure-Wély played a major role in the development of the

Was a French organist and composer.Lefébure-Wély played a major role in the development of the French symphonic organ style and was a close friend of the organ builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, inaugurating many new Cavaillé-Coll organs. He was organist at the Parisian churches of Saint-Roch (1841-1846), the Église de la Madeleine (1846-1858), and Saint-Sulpice (1863-1869). He is the dedicatee of the 12 studies for organ pedals alone by Charles-Valentin Alkan; it has been suggested that this was a sly mockery on Alkan's part[citation needed].

Was a French painter and architect who worked in Sweden during the last twenty years of his life. De

Was a French painter and architect who worked in Sweden during the last twenty years of his life. Desprez, who was born in Auxerre in Bourgogne, studied architecture and was awarded the Great Prize of the Académie d'architecture in 1770. He traveled frequently to Italy and was associated with Piranesi in Rome, when he came to the attention of Swedish King Gustavus III,

A French film actor. He is known for his roles in several Hollywood films, including The Paradine Ca

A French film actor. He is known for his roles in several Hollywood films, including The Paradine Case (1947), Gigi (1958), The Best of Everything (1959), and Octopussy (1983).In 1947, Jourdan accepted an offer from a Hollywood studio to appear in The Paradine Case, an Alfred Hitchcock drama starring Gregory Peck. There he became friends with several stars who shared his love of croquet. After a number of American films, most notably the 1954 romantic drama Three Coins in the Fountain, he made his Broadway debut in the lead role in Billy Rose' drama,

Was a renowned French actor and producer. He was the uncle of Anglo-French actor Peter Wyngarde.

Was a renowned French actor and producer. He was the uncle of Anglo-French actor Peter Wyngarde.

A French climber born in Annecy, was one of the first two mountaineers to climb a summit of more tha

A French climber born in Annecy, was one of the first two mountaineers to climb a summit of more than 8,000 meters. On 3 June 1950, along with Maurice Herzog, he reached the summit of Annapurna I in Nepal at a height of 8,091 m (26,545 ft). Previously he

Was a French pianist and composer. In Paris, Lacombe initially established himself as a virtuoso pia

Was a French pianist and composer. In Paris, Lacombe initially established himself as a virtuoso pianist, increasingly dedicating himself to composition and music criticism. (His essays were partly reprinted in a posthumous collection, Philosophie et musique (1896).)

Was a French Jesuit. After making his studies under the Fathers of the Society of Jesus, Lallemant e

Was a French Jesuit. After making his studies under the Fathers of the Society of Jesus, Lallemant entered that order in 1605, having completed the usual course of study and teaching for new members. He was ordained and taught philosophy and theology for some time until he was made master of novices, an office he filled for four years. Having exercised it with success he was appointed director of the fathers in third probation; after three years in this difficult post he broke down in health, and was sent to the college of Bourget, in the hope that change of occupation would restore him. The hope was not to be fulfilled; he died after a few months.

Was a French academic artist born in Lyons. He is remembered today primarily as the teacher of sever

Was a French academic artist born in Lyons. He is remembered today primarily as the teacher of several more renowned artists, notably Edgar Degas, Elie Delaunay, Henry Lerolle, Henri Regnault, and James Tissot.[1] Lamothe was a pupil of Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres and Jean-Hippolyte Flandrin. Art historian Jean Sutherland Boggs describes him as a history painter "in a pious Christian tradition", and likens his "correct, moral, bourgeois, and even sanctimonious portraits" to those of Flandrin, whom Lamothe assisted in the decoration of the church of St-Martin-d'Ainay in 1855.[2]

Was a French geologist and paleontologist. He discovered the original Cro-Magnon skeletons.

Was a French geologist and paleontologist. He discovered the original Cro-Magnon skeletons.

Is a French footballer who currently plays as a forward for Everton in the Premier League and the Fr

Is a French footballer who currently plays as a forward for Everton in the Premier League and the France national team. A former scholar at the Clairefontaine football academy, he started his career at Metz before playing on loan at Newcastle United. Before the start of the 2000–01 season, Saha moved to Fulham where he established himself as first choice striker,

Was a French Jesuit who participated in the 1687 French Jesuit mission to China under Jean de Fontan

Was a French Jesuit who participated in the 1687 French Jesuit mission to China under Jean de Fontaney. He arrived in China on 7 February 1688.[1] He returned to France in 1691 as Procurator of the Jesuits.[2] His Nouveau mémoire sur l'état présent de la Chine, which was published in Paris in 1696, caused great debate within the Chinese Rites Controversy.[3]