Alexandre-Marie Quesnay de Beaurepaire
Alexandre-Marie Quesnay de Beaurepaire was the grandson of French philosopher and economist, François Quesnay, and was among the idealistic French contingency who joined in the American struggle for independence during the late 18th century.
Quesnay de Beaurepaire is best known for occupying several positions: a captain in the Royal Guards of Louis XVI, French captain in the American Revolutionary War Army and co-patron, alongside Thomas Jefferson, of the short-lived first United States Academy of Science & Arts in Richmond, Virginia. During his time in the United States he lived variously in Gloucester County, Virginia; Philadelphia; New York City; and Richmond, Virginia. With the failure of his planned academy, he returned to France in 1786.
