Frasier C. French II

## The Most Reverend  Frasier C. French II  28th Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church

Primate of The Episcopal Church (2019-Present)United States Ambassador to the Court of St James's (1979-1996)
United States Senator from Connecticut (1974-1979)
Governor of Connecticut (1970-1974)

### Born

Frasier Charles French IIJune 14, 1946 (Age 78)

### Children

Niles E. FrenchBertram W. French
Elizabeth French

### Parents

Frasier C. French I
R. Tiffany Bingham

### Relatives

Hiram Bingham III (Great Grandfather)
Hiram Bingham IV (Grandfather)

### Residence

French Manor, Simsbury
Connecticut, US

### Awards

Navy Cross (1969)
 Purple Heart (1969)

**Frasier Charles French II** (Born June 14,1946) is a prominent American businessman, politician, diplomat, theologian, and prelate. He is known for his own political and religious prominence as well as that of his children. He is the patriarch of the American French Political Family.

Born and raised by a land-owning family in Simsbury, Connecticut French attended Cornell University for 4 years and received a bachelor's degrees in theology and political philosophy. He was drafted by the U.S Navy during the Vietnam War and fought with distinction before returning home and being elected the Governor of Connecticut and eventually the state's Senator before being appointed by Jimmy Carter as Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

French is married to Claire Astruc-French. Following his retirement from public service, he became heavily involved in the Episcopal Church becoming its 28th Presiding Bishop and Primate. His son Niles E. French is the President of the United States and his daughter Elizabeth French is the Governor of California.

## Early life

Frasier Charles French II was born in 1946 in Simsbury, Connecticut. French was the elder son of Tiffany & Co. heiress R. Tiffany Bingham and Victoria Cross recipient and businessman Frasier C. French I. They might during the Second World War following the Liberation of France. He had a younger brother, Francis, and two younger sisters, Mary and Margaret. His grandfather was Hiram Bingham IV, who as a diplomat who helped over 2,500 Jews escape during the Fall of France. In addition his great-grandfather was Hiram Bingham III who was the discoverer of Machu Picchu and a long time public servant of the state of Connecticut as its Governor and Senator. In addition to inheriting a large amount of land which has been in the family since the reign of Queen Anne, upon returning from the war, his father was an accomplished businessman and made a large fortune as a stock market and commodity investor and increased his fortune with distribution rights for Scotch whisky.

French followed in the footsteps of many members of his family by attending Cornell University. He focused on becoming a social leader, working energetically to gain admittance to various prestigious societies

On October 7, 1965 and before leaving for Vietnam, French married Claire Astruc the eldest daughter of a blue blooded Jewish family from Quebec who he had met while studying at Cornell. He was also ordained in the Episo

## Military Career

On December 28, 1965, French received his commission as a lieutenant in the Navy Chaplain Corps. He then requested to serve with the Fleet Marine Force (FMF) in Vietnam. After some training to serve within the Marine Corps, he was assigned in April 1966 to the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division in South Vietnam. In December, he was transferred to the 1st Medical Battalion, 1st Marine Division, until his year's tour was completed. In June 1967 after a one-month leave, he returned to Vietnam for a voluntary six-month extension, and in July was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. In August, he was assigned to H&S Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, where he befriended Lieutenant Frederick W. Smith, the future founder of Federal Express. Even before French's wounds and discharge, he was widely known for his willingness to share the hardships of suffering Marines on the front lines – "Radiating Christ" to those around him, in the terminology of Father Raoul Plus, a World War One chaplain studied by Maryknollers – or simply the "Grunt Padre", in the words of French's Marine companions.

On Labor Day, September 4, 1967, at 4:30 am, during Operation Swift in the Thang Binh District of the Que Son Valley, a few dozen men of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines encountered a large North Vietnamese Army (NVA) unit of approximately 2,500 near the village of Dong Son. The outnumbered and disorganized Company D of the 1st Battalion was in need of reinforcements, and Company B soon joined. By 9:14 am, 26 Marines were confirmed dead. At 9:25 am, the commander of 1st Battalion requested further reinforcements, and Companies K and M from the 3rd Battalion were committed to the battle, still leaving the Marines greatly outnumbered by the NVA.

When French heard that two platoons of M Company from his battalion were taking casualties and about to be overrun by the enemy, the unarmed chaplain went among the wounded and dying Marines of 2nd Platoon, helping and comforting them and giving last rites. That afternoon, he was wounded in the hand, arms and legs. He was later found unconscious and received a medical evacuation before receiving treatment and an honourable discharge. He was later awarded the Navy Cross and then a Congressional Medal of Honour.

## Political career

In October 1969, French announced his intention to run for Governor of Connecticut in the 1970 election. Throughout the campaign, however, French rode his war hero status to victory In 1970 French was elected as Governor of Connecticut. French was sworn in as the Governor of Connecticut on January 12, 1971. As Governor, French was reluctant to engage in back-slapping and political favours, and the legislature found him frustrating to work with. He looked to aggressively expand the governor's authority while reducing the complexity of the state government. Therefore, he negotiated a bill allowing him to propose executive restructuring and to force a vote on it. He implemented zero-based budgeting within state departments and added a Judicial Selection Commission to verify the credentials of judges appointed by the governor.

On July 8, 1973, during an appearance in Hartford, French stated his intent to establish a Connecticut Human Rights Council that would work toward solving issues within the state ahead of any potential violence. In 1974, He resigned the Governorship to take up a seat in the Senate. In 1979, he was appointed by Jimmy Carter as the Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

## Diplomatic career

French hugely enjoyed his leadership position in London high society, which stood in stark contrast to his relative outsider status in Connecticut. As his boys attended Eton College, he fostered closer relations with the United Kingdom especially with its monarch and government. His son, Niles, wrote that

"Her Majesty became like another grandmother to me. When I met at the age of 9, she and the Duke of Edinburgh welcomed us with open arms and over the course of many years began to treat us like her own."

French also served as Ambassador to the United Kingdom during the Falklands War when he relayed American support for the United Kingdom as the Falklands were invaded by Argentina. Due to his family's history with the United Kingdom and his closeness with British public figures, French was served under three different Presidents and got along well with the Royal Family and the British Government due to his long experience and his Anglican faith. He resigned in 1996 stating he missed the United States and his home state of Connecticut in particular. Even after his resignation he maintained good relations with the Royal Family. Following the birth of each of their children the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex named French, his wife, and his son, Niles, as godparents.

## Ministry

French was ordained deacon at Cornell in 1964 and and priest a year later. He served as a chaplain during the Vietnam War. Upon his retirement in 1996, He served initially as priest and subsequently as rector of the Church of King Charles the Martyr, an Anglo-Catholic parish in Simsbury. French participated in crisis response pastoral care, the founding of ecumenical summer day camps for children, preaching missions, creation of networks of family day care providers, and the brokering of investment in inner city neighbourhoods.

French was elected bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut on February 11, 2010. When he was consecrated at Hartford, he became one of the few Anglo-Catholic diocesan bishops of the Episcopal Church. As a diocesan bishop, he served on the board of directors of the Alliance for Christian Media and chaired the board of Episcopal Relief and Development.

On May 1, 2019, the joint nominating committee for the election of the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church nominated French and three other bishops as candidates for 28th presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church, a position held by his ancestor Samuel Seabury. The election occurred on June 27, 2019, at the 79th General Convention meeting in New York City. French was elected by the House of Bishops meeting at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on the first ballot with 121 of 174 votes cast. Laity and clergy in the House of Deputies ratified French's election later the same day. French was installed as presiding bishop and primate on November 1, 2015, All Saints' Day, during a Eucharist at Washington National Cathedral. The service included readings was conducted in Latin. As Presiding Bishop, French has championed preserving liturgical tradition while interpreting scripture through contemporary reason. He has supported gay marriage and abortion within the church.

## Personal Life

Frasier and Claire French have three children. Two of the French's children attained distinguished political positions: Niles French is the 48th President of the United States. His daughter Elizabeth is the incumbent Governor of California. French is also descended from King Charles II and other British monarchs through his ancestor Charlotte Lee, Countess of Lichfield, Charles II's illegitimate daughter. In 2020, French suffered a stroke attack while in Simsbury but recovered a few months later however had to undergo speech therapy. As of 2024, his speech has fully recovered.