Pauline Fourès


Pauline Fourès, born Pauline Bellisle, was a French painter and novelist in addition to being a mistress of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Life

Fourès was born in Pamiers on March 15, 1778 to Marguerite Brandon and Henri Jacques-Clement Bellisle, a clockmaker. She worked as a milliner and married Jean-Noel Fourès, a cavalryman who was on leave from military duty. When Jean-Noel was called back to active duty during the couple's honeymoon, Fourès accompanied him on the French army's trip to Egypt. As the soldiers' spouses were not permitted to come on the transport ship, Fourès wore a Chasseur uniform to disguise herself, successfully remaining undetected for 54 days until the expedition's arrival in Alexandra.
After meeting Fourès, Napoleon sent her husband away on a military mission to France and began courting her. After her husband's early return, Fourès and Jean-Noel divorced.