Louise-Clémence Autran

Louise-Clémence Autran née Bec, a native of Marseille and daughter of a prominent city merchant, was married twice. Her first marriage, in 1834, was to Douglas Fitch (1799-1848), an American businessman. Her second marriage, in 1852, was to Joseph Autran (1813-1877), a poet and academic. She and Joseph entertained leading figures from the arts and letters, including Alexandre Dumas fils, Armand de Pontmartin and Jules Claretie. Ms. Autan lived in the château of Pradines, between the village of Grambois and the 17th century Hermitage of Saint Pancrace.