Delalande, Michel-Richard. 1657-1726. French ecclesiastic composer.

Delaroche, Paul. 1797-1859. French portrait and historical painter. Death of Queen Elizabeth. Children of Edward.

Delcassé, Théophile. 1852-1923. French statesman. Fashoda. Anglo-French Entente. Treaty of London.

Delescluze, Charles. 1809-71. French journalist. Led 1871 Commune.

Delibes, Leo. 1836-91. French ballet composer: Coppélia 1870.

Delisle, Guillaume. 1675-1726. French “Father of Cartography”. Early accurate maps.

Delius, Frederick. 1862-1934. English/French Impressionist opera composer. Tone poems.

Delorme, Philibert. c1510-70. French Classical architect. Tuileries Palace 1564. Old Paris Hôtel de Ville.

Denfert-Rochereau, Philippe. 1823-78. French Colonel in war of 1870.

Denis, Maurice. 1870-1943. French religious painter.

Desaix, Louis. 1768-1800. French general. Killed at Marengo.

Desargues, Girard. 1591-1661. French geometrician.

Descartes, René. 1596-1650. French Rationalist philosopher, physician, mathematician. Cartesian coordinates. Discourse on Method 1637. “Cogito ergo sum”-I think, therefore I am. Analytical Geometry 1636. Meditations 1641. Principia Philosophica 1645.

DeSmet, Pierre. 1801-73. French missionary to US. Mediator between settlers, Indians.

Desmoulins, Camille. 1760-94. French journalist, lawyer and conventionnel. Speech inspired the storming of the Bastille. Executed as Moderate.

Dettingen, Battle. 1743. English defeat French in War of Austrian Succession.

Devil’s Island. French Guiana. South American penal colony 1854-1946.

Devolution, War of. 1667-8. French fail to sieze Spanish Netherlands for Marie-Thérèse vs Charles II. Triple Alliance. Aix-la-Chapelle.

Diamond Necklace Affair. 1785. Necklace bought for Marie Antionette; not paid for. French Revolution.

Diderot, Denis. 1713-84. French writer, editor of Encyclopédie 1745-72 based on Chambers’. Rameau’s nephew.

Dien Bien Phu, Battle. 1954. Decisive Vietnamese victory; ends French rule.

Dieppe. 1942. Unsuccessful Canadian-led experimental assault on French port. 44,000 dead.

Directory. French government 1795-99. Consulate.

Djibouti. 1896 =French Somaliland (Afars, Issas). 1977 Independent.

Doctrinaires. 1815-30. French Royalist writers.

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