Pierre LeGlace

**Pierre Antoine LeGlace** (13 June 1839 — 3 April 1859) was a wealthy French businessman from Paris, France.

Born as the son of the banking magnate Francis LeGlace, Pierre was raised and educated in preparation for inheriting his father's numerous banks across Paris. When Pierre was 19, he met Charlotte of France, the future Queen of England, and the two experienced a brief courtship. Pierre had plans to propose to Charlotte, but was killed in a robbery on the night before.

## Early life

Pierre was born on 13 April 1839, to Francis and Catherine LeGlace. As an only child, he was the sole focus of his parents' attention, and grew up in a loving household. He was placed under a strict education regimen by his father, who sought to prepare him to one day take over the banking empire he ran.

Pierre's childhood was one filled with luxury, as his family often vacationed across Europe and entertained elite society at their large home in Paris. Pierre was an energetic boy who enjoyed sports more than his studies, and he was known for his kindness.

In 1855, at the age of 15, Pierre's mother was killed in an accident that nearly claimed Pierre's own life. The pair were crossing a busy street in Paris when a carriage rounded a corner and — not seeing the mother and son in time — struck them. His mother suffered severe head and neck trauma, and died on the scene. Pierre sustained a broken collarbone, a broken wrist, and a sprained ankle, which left him bedridden for weeks. The death of his mother, and the trauma of witnessing it, left Pierre shaken and he became much more quiet and reserved than he had previously been.

In late 1858, Pierre's father fell ill with an unknown disease that even the best doctors in France could not treat. Thus, he further progressed his tutelage of his son to prepare him to take over the business. This pressure coupled with the impending loss of his father added stress to Pierre's life, and his father encouraged him to find a wife to provide relief.

## Courtship

In early 1859, Pierre attended a ball held in Paris where he met Charlotte of France, then 17. Immediately, Pierre felt an affection for the young French noblewoman, and the two began a private courtship in which they would meet at balls and sneak away to the gardens for time alone. Pierre was deeply in love with Charlotte, and wrote to his ill father of her, stating, "How such a divine creature could exist, I do not know — but how exquisite she is!" Included in his letter was his intent to propose, and following three months of their courtship, at a ball on 3 April 1859 Pierre asked to call on Charlotte the following morning.

## Death

The same evening of April 3, on his return home from the ball, Pierre's carriage was assaulted by a pair of robbers, one of whom was armed with a pistol. Pierre reluctantly allowed them to ransack his coach, but when they came across his engagement ring intended for Charlotte, he tried to persuade them not to take it. In an ensuing struggle, Pierre was shot twice — once through the shoulder and once in the chest, just above his heart. At around 3:30a.m. on 3 April 1859, Pierre died of subsequent blood loss from his wounds. Just three months after Pierre's death, his father, Francis, succumbed to his illness. With no living descendants, Francis donated his massive fortune (roughly ₣10,000,000 worth the equivalent of €365,500,000 today) to numerous charities in his son's name.