47.2172° N, 1.5539° W

NANTES

Most Famous People Born in Nantes, France

Notable people
1,043
Peak decade
1970s
Median birth year
1910
Most distinctive
Architect 4.4×

Jules Verne grew up watching the Loire shipyards that would populate every one of his adventure novels with captains and engineers, and the architect over-index at 4.4× keeps that maker tradition alive five generations later. A newer wave — Christine and the Queens, Madeon — has been exporting French pop from the same port the slave trade once made rich.

Through the Centuries

One face per century — the most globally famous figure born in Nantes during each.

Notable Births by Decade

Click a decade to filter the list below. Peak: 1970s with 103 notable births.

What Nantes Is Known For

Click any row to filter the list of people below.

Politician is Nantes's biggest profession — 16% of all notables (169).

Nantes over-indexes on architect4.4× the global rate.

Nantes under-produces football — only 0.4× the global rate.

  1. Politician169
  2. Painter65
  3. Writer49
  4. Actor48
  5. Football47
  6. Architect41
  7. Journalist34
  8. Priest26
  1. Architect414.4×
  2. Rower133.4×
  3. Sculptor172.5×
  4. Painter652.4×
  5. Artist232.1×
  6. Physician152.1×
  7. Journalist342.1×
  8. Historian211.9×
  1. Football470.4×

Profession Mix Over Time

Each band shows a profession family's share of Nantes's notable births by decade. Hover the chart for the breakdown at any decade.

1550160016501700175018001850190019502000
  • Politics & Law
  • Art & Design
  • Writing
  • Sports
  • Science
  • Film & TV
  • Other
All1,043
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1,043 notable people

0301 SKIER

Patrice Martin

Born 1964

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0302 PAINTER

Charles Leduc

1831 - 1911

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0303 ACTOR

Michel Jourdan

Born 1926

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0304 BOBSLED

Vincent Ricard

Born 1985

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0305 FOOTBALL

Claire Guillard

Born 1986

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0306 FENCER

Joseph Perotaux

1883 - 1967

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0307 PRIEST

Paul Doncœur

1880 - 1961

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0308 POET

Ernest Fouinet

1799 - 1845

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0309 POLITICIAN

Elizabeth Montfort

Born 1954

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0310 POLITICIAN

Gisèle Gautier

Born 1938

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0311 ARTIST

Tin-Tin (tatoueur)

Born 1965

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0312 ACTOR

Marc Rioufol

1962 - 2011

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0313 PRIEST

Xavier-Marie Baronnet

1927 - 2012

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0314 SCULPTOR

Jean-Baptiste Barré

1804 - 1877

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0315 DIPLOMAT

Achille-Claude Clarac

1903 - 1999

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0316 FLYING ACE

Michel Coiffard

1892 - 1918

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0317 HISTORIAN

Louis Lacour

1832 - 1892

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0318 ACTOR

Érik Colin

1947 - 2013

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0319 ATHLETIC

Yves Camus

Born 1930

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0320 FOOTBALL

Jordan Rambaud

Born 1998

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0321 POLITICIAN

Yannick Haury

Born 1954

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0322 ARTIST

Jules Grandjouan

1875 - 1968

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0323 PAINTER

Jean-Baptiste Monge

Born 1971

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0324 ORGANBUILDER

Louis Debierre

1842 - 1920

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0325 SAILOR

Amédée Thubé

1884 - 1941

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0326 ACTOR

Franck Sémonin

Born 1972

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0327 FOOTBALL

Stéphane Moreau (football)

Born 1971

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0328 FOOTBALL

Denis Renaud

Born 1974

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0329 GENEALOGIST

Michel Dugast Rouillé

1919 - 1987

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0330 WRITER

Michel Guérin

Born 1946

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0331 ROWER

Olivier Moncelet

Born 1970

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0332 PLAYER

Marc-Antoine Rallier

Born 1988

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0333 POET

Jean Laroche

1921 - 2010

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0334 JOURNALIST

Vincent Hervouët

Born 1957

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0335 SCULPTOR

Élisabeth Cibot

Born 1960

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0336 FOOTBALL

Gaëlle Blouin

Born 1972

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0337 TEACHER

André Guillou

1923 - 2013

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0338 ACTOR

Marguerite Templey

1880 - 1944

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0339 PAINTER

Alain Thomas

Born 1942

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0340 SELLER

Yvonne de Bremond d'Ars

1894 - 1976

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0341 PHOTOGRAPHER

Henri Le Lieure

1831 - 1914

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0342 WRITER

Serge Arcouët

1916 - 1983

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0343 JOURNALIST

Mathieu Vidard

Born 1971

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0344 DESIGNER

Patrick Jouin

Born 1967

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0345 PAINTER

Eulalie Morin

1765 - 1837

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0346 POLITICIAN

Serge Telle

Born 1955

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0347 PRIEST

Bernard Louis Marie Charrier

Born 1938

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0348 PRIEST

Yves-Marie Dubigeon

1927 - 2007

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0349 SCULPTOR

Joseph-Michel Caillé

1836 - 1881

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0350 ACTOR

Michel Bompoil

Born 1959

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0351 ROWER

Marcel Chauvigné

1911 - 1972

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0352 ATHLETE

Christophe Ruer

1965 - 2007

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0353 PLAYWRIGHT

Hippolyte-Jules Demolière

1802 - 1877

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0354 OLYMPIC

Vincent Garos

Born 1982

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0355 POLITICIAN

Julien-François Douillard

1757 - 1833

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0356 MUSIC

Bertrand Renaudin

Born 1955

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0357 SAXOPHONIST

Matthieu Donarier

Born 1976

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0358 SCULPTOR

Jacques Le Nantec

Born 1940

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0359 SINGER

Alexis Rault

Born 1981

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0360 FOOTBALL

Christophe Point

Born 1965

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0361 ACTOR

Gustave Gallet

1875 - 1955

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0362 BUSINESS

Pascale Sourisse

Born 1962

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0363 POLITICIAN

Yannick Moreau (homme politique)

Born 1975

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0364 POLITICIAN

Pascale Briand

Born 1952

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0365 POLITICIAN

Alphonse-Alfred Haentjens

1824 - 1884

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0366 WRITER

Domitille de Pressensé

Born 1952

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0367 JOURNALIST

Pascal Praud

Born 1964

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0368 MAGISTRAT

Georges Courtois

1947 - 2019

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0369 ACTOR

Charles Lavialle

1894 - 1965

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0370 POLITICIAN

Alain Chénard

Born 1937

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0371 ACTOR

René Berthelot

1630 - 1664

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0372 JOURNALIST

Sylvain Bourmeau

Born 1965

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0373 DRIVER

David Terrien

Born 1976

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0374 PHYSICIAN

Gustave-Antoine Richelot

1807 - 1893

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0375 HISTORIAN

Jacques Chiffoleau

Born 1951

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0376 POLITICIAN

Alain Lebœuf

Born 1964

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0377 OLYMPIC

Pierre Leboucher

Born 1980

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0378 MUSIC

Dominig Bouchaud

Born 1957

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0379 FOOTBALL

Sébastien Le Paih

Born 1974

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0380 ROWER

Mickaël Marteau

Born 1992

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0381 FILM

Thierry Jousse

Born 1961

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0382 PLAYER

Romain Frou

Born 1984

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0383 ARCHITECT

Pierre Rousseau (1751-1829)

1751 - 1829

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0384 ARTIST

Michel Bourdais

Born 1943

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0385 PHOTOGRAPHER

Thierry Girard

Born 1951

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0386 EXPLORER

Emmanuel Bertrand-Bocandé

1812 - 1881

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0387 FILM

Philippe Monnier (réalisateur)

Born 1939

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0388 MAGISTRAT

Charles Mourain de Sourdeval

1800 - 1879

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0389 ARCHITECT

Bernard Hamburger

1940 - 1982

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0390 SKATER

Anne-Sophie Calvez

Born 1983

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0391 POLITICIAN

Jacques Sourdille

1922 - 1996

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0392 COXSWAIN

Alain Bouffard

Born 1939

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0393 ACTOR

Geoffrey Couët

Born 1988

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0394 POLITICIAN

Luc Dejoie

1931 - 2006

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0395 ACTOR

Cannelle Carré-Cassaigne

Born 1995

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0396 SCULPTOR

Christophe Charbonnel

Born 1967

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0397 LAWYER

Jean Marguerite Bachelier

1751 - 1843

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0398 BOTANIST

Louis Bureau

1847 - 1936

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0399 POLITICIAN

Charles Brunellière

1847 - 1917

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0400 ROWER

Erwan Péron

Born 1980

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0401 POLITICIAN

Charles Athanase Marie de Charette de La Contrie �

1796 - 1848

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0402 ARTIST

Hervé Tanquerelle

Born 1972

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0403 ACTOR

Odile Poisson

1935 - 2008

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0404 BUSINESS

Michel Bolloré

1922 - 1997

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0405 ACTOR

Loïc Pichon

Born 1943

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0406 ARTIST

Benjamin Flao

Born 1975

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0407 WRITER

Andrée Crabbé Rocha

1917 - 2003

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0408 ENTOMOLOGIST

Loïc Matile

1938 - 2000

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0409 PLAYER

Olivier Elima

Born 1983

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0410 HISTORIAN

Michel Morineau

1929 - 2007

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0411 ATHLETIC

Jacqueline André

Born 1946

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0412 THEATRE

Olivier Mantei

Born 1965

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0413 POLITICIAN

Karine Daniel

Born 1974

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0414 SCULPTOR

Siméon Foucault

1884 - 1923

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0415 SPORT

Paul Lemeteyer

Born 1942

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0416 SPORT

Jonathan Thiré

Born 1986

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0417 POLITICIAN

Jacques Boyon

1934 - 2019

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0418 OFFICIER

Jean Le Cour-Grandmaison

1883 - 1974

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0419 POLITICIAN

Louis Lucipia

1843 - 1904

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0420 JOURNALIST

Stéphane Dugast

Born 1974

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0421 ACTOR

Daubray

1837 - 1892

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0422 BUSINESS

Jean-Pierre Nadir

Born 1965

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0423 PAINTER

James Guitet

1925 - 2010

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0424 ENTOMOLOGIST

Charles Boursin

1901 - 1971

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0425 POET

Émile Chevé

1829 - 1897

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0426 ACTOR

Virginie Legeay

Born 1982

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0427 WRITER

Yves Lainé

Born 1937

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0428 SINGER

Donatienne Michel-Dansac

Born 1965

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0429 ARCHITECT

Constant Douillard

1795 - 1878

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0430 PHYSICIAN

Émile Vallin

1833 - 1924

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0431 SYNDICALISTE

Yannick Simbron

1938 - 2008

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0432 JOURNALIST

Stéphane Pajot

Born 1966

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0433 ARCHITECT

Lucien Douillard

1829 - 1888

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0434 COLLECTOR

Thomas Dobrée (1810-1895)

1810 - 1895

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0435 LAWYER

Yann Choucq

Born 1946

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0436 PAINTER

Étienne Bouchaud

1898 - 1989

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0437 ATHLETIC

Louis Wilhelme

1900 - 1966

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0438 CHEF

Manu Feildel

Born 1974

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0439 ACTOR

François Joxe

Born 1940

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0440 KAYAK

Emmanuel Brugvin

Born 1970

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0441 MILITAR

François Thomas Galbaud-Dufort

1743 - 1801

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0442 PSYCHOLOGIST

Gaston Viaud

1899 - 1961

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0443 ATHLETIC

Suzanne Glotin

Born 1933

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0444 HISTORIAN

Jacques Rougerie (historien)

Born 1932

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0445 PLAYWRIGHT

Aristide Letorzec

1808 - 1848

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0446 ARCHITECT

Georges Lafont (architecte)

1847 - 1924

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0447 ENGINEER

Robert Pitrou

1684 - 1750

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0448 WRITER

Julia Kerninon

Born 1987

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0449 WRITER

Edmond Coarer-Kalondan

1909 - 1981

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0450 FONCTIONNAIRE

Yannick Moreau (femme politique)

Born 1945

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0451 MILITAR

Jean Demozay

1915 - 1945

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0452 MEDALLIST

Jules Edouard Roiné

1857 - 1916

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0453 PAINTER

René Levrel

1900 - 1981

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0454 PAINTER

Michel Noury

1912 - 1986

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0455 POLITICIAN

Émile Labeyrie

1877 - 1966

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0456 SKATER

Yann Guyader

Born 1984

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0457 ARCHITECT

Gilles Ebersolt

Born 1957

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0458 JOURNALIST

Bernard Bretonnière

Born 1950

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0459 SCULPTOR

Daniel Ducommun du Locle

1804 - 1884

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0460 FOLKLORIST

Bernard de Parades

1921 - 2000

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0461 MILITAR

Léon Jost

1884 - 1941

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0462 POLITICIAN

Alain Levoyer

1940 - 2017

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0463 PAINTER

René Pinard

1883 - 1938

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0464 POLITICIAN

Élisabeth Doineau

Born 1961

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0465 PAINTER

Gildas Bourdais

Born 1939

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0466 MILITAR

Félix de Vial

1864 - 1949

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0467 POLITICIAN

Jean-Baptiste Mosneron de Launay

1738 - 1830

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0468 FILM

Bertrand Tessier

Born 1960

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0469 WRITER

Jean-Claude Pinson

Born 1947

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0470 JOURNALIST

Baudouin Eschapasse

Born 1971

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0471 COMPOSER

Franck Marchal

Born 1968

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0472 WRITER

Jacques-Louis de Bougrenet de La Tocnaye

1767 - 1823

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0473 CEO

Rodolphe Marchais

Born 1954

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0474 PAINTER

Charles Maussion

1923 - 2010

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0475 HAIRSTYLIST

Alain Pichon

Born 1966

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0476 ARCHITECT

Louis-Prudent Douillard

1790 - 1869

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0477 ATHLETIC

Kévin Hautcœur

Born 1985

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0478 JOURNALIST

Noël Couëdel

Born 1942

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0479 POLITICIAN

René-Gaston Baco de la Chapelle

1761 - 1800

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0480 GRAFIKER

Raphaël Marionneau

Born 1970

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0481 PHYSICIAN

Jean-Luc Harousseau

Born 1948

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0482 ACTOR

Théodule Carré-Cassaigne

Born 1990

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0483 JOURNALIST

Raphaël Viau

1862 - 1922

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0484 MILITAR

René Babonneau

1904 - 1963

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0485 ACTOR

Michel Valmer

Born 1947

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0486 ARTIST

Gwen de Bonneval

Born 1973

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0487 ARCHITECT

Étienne Coutan

1875 - 1963

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0488 HISTORIAN

Charles de La Roncière

1870 - 1941

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0489 WRITER

Marguerite Allotte de La Fuÿe

1874 - 1959

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0490 GEOGRAPHER

Stéphane Rosière

Born 1959

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0491 PHOTOGRAPHER

Philippe Bazin

Born 1954

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0492 ATHLETIC

Loïc Lerouge

Born 1977

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0493 WRITER

Gilbert Dupé

1900 - 1986

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0494 PAINTER

René Legrand

1923 - 1996

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0495 BASKET

Adja Konteh

Born 1992

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0496 PHYSICIAN

Yvonne Pouzin

1884 - 1947

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0497 PLAYWRIGHT

Stéphane Guérin

Born 1969

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0498 MUSIC

Armel Dupas

Born 1984

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0499 ARTIST

Olivier Texier

Born 1972

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0500 ARCHITECT

Émile Libaudière

1853 - 1923

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0501 GEOLOGIST

Gabriel Gohau

Born 1934

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0502 FILM

Ivan Maussion

-

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0503 WRITER

Mahir Guven

Born 1986

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0504 CHRONICLER

Pierre Choque

1450 - 1530

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0505 PAINTER

Prosper Barbot

1798 - 1877

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0506 POLITICIAN

Pierre-Suzanne Lucas de La Championnière

1769 - 1828

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0507 PAINTER

Charles Homualk

1909 - 1996

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0508 FINANCIER

Étienne-Michel Bouret

1710 - 1777

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0509 POET

Bernard Perroy

Born 1960

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0510 POET

Émilie Evershed

1800 - 1879

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0511 ARCHITECT

Joseph-Fleury Chenantais

1809 - 1868

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0512 POLITICIAN

Gérard Mellier

1674 - 1729

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0513 SINGER

Zoë Avril

Born 1980

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0514 JOURNALIST

Alain de Sérigny

1912 - 1986

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0515 JOURNALIST

Michel Renaud (voyageur)

1945 - 2015

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0516 LINGUIST

Léon Bureau

1837 - 1900

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0517 MISSING

Yann Bonnet

Born 1981

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0518 WRITER

Guillaume Belhomme

Born 1976

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0519 ARTIST

Françoise Quardon

Born 1961

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0520 ACADEMIC

Dominique David

Born 1949

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0521 WRITER

Jérôme Lambert (écrivain)

Born 1975

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0522 DRAUGHTSWOMAN

Louis-Xavier Valton

Born 1971

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0523 PAINTER

Maurice Gourdon

1847 - 1941

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0524 WRITER

Jean-Pierre Martin

Born 1948

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0525 HISTORIAN

Anna Trespeuch-Berthelot

Born 1976

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0526 PHOTOGRAPHER

Olivier Sauzereau

Born 1966

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0527 ORGANIST

Henri-Franck Beaupérin

Born 1968

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0528 HISTORIAN

Romain Pigeaud

Born 1972

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0529 POLITICIAN

Jean Verlhac

1923 - 1995

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0530 JOURNALIST

Hervé Louboutin

Born 1951

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0531 PHILOSOPHER

René Maublanc

1891 - 1960

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0532 POET

Émile Boissier

1870 - 1905

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0533 POLITICIAN

Arthur Dallidet

1906 - 1942

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0534 POLITICIAN

Armand-Louis de Sérent

1736 - 1822

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0535 FINANCIER

Firmin René Desloge

1803 - 1856

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0536 ACTOR

Jean Bolo

1920 - 1982

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0537 MUSIC

Jérôme Joy

Born 1961

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0538 FOOTBALL

Emmanuel Rival

Born 1971

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0539 POLITICIAN

Mathieu-Augustin Cornet

1750 - 1832

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0540 WRITER

Madame de Stolz

1820 - 1898

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0541 ARTIST

Christian Paty

Born 1969

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0542 ARTISTE

Régis Perray

Born 1970

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0543 ACADEMIC

Jacques Moreau (professeur)

1931 - 2019

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0544 POLITICIAN

Alfred Lallié

1832 - 1913

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0545 ATHLETIC

Régis Groisard

Born 1973

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0546 ROWER

Michel Viaud

Born 1940

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0547 HISTORIAN

Lionel Balout

1907 - 1992

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0548 WRITER

Lauric Guillaud

Born 1949

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0549 SOLDIER

Joseph Picot de Limoëlan

1768 - 1826

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0550 ARTIST

Stéphane Oiry

Born 1970

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0551 ACTOR

Germaine Ledoyen

1908 - 1998

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0552 PAINTER

François Meuret

1800 - 1887

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0553 POLITICIAN

Robert Diat

Born 1955

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0554 PHOTOGRAPHER

Alphonse Terpereau

1839 - 1897

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0555 ACTOR

Yvonneck

1874 - 1929

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0556 SPORT

Vincent Ragot (cyclisme)

Born 1983

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0557 POLITICIAN

Jean Clouet (homme politique)

1921 - 2008

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0558 ARCHITECT

Léopold Ridel

1852 - 1910

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0559 ARTIST

Charles Baret

1861 - 1934

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0560 POLITICIAN

Auguste Pageot

1884 - 1962

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0561 ARTIST

Stéphane Heurteau

Born 1967

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0562 ENGINEER

Jules de La Gournerie

1814 - 1883

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0563 SOCIOLOGIST

Jean-Yves Petiteau

1942 - 2015

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0564 WRITER

Franck Lhomeau

Born 1955

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0565 CHEF

Gilles Epié

Born 1958

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0566 ENGINEER

Louis de Bussy

1822 - 1903

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0567 MANUFACTURER

Thomas Dobrée (1781-1828)

1781 - 1828

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0568 POLITICIAN

Piter Deurbroucq

1756 - 1831

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0569 ARTIST

Olga Boldyreff

Born 1957

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0570 CHOREOGRAPHER

Carole Douillard

Born 1971

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0571 POLITICIAN

Jacques de Maupeou

1899 - 1963

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0572 ARTIST

Anne Montel

Born 1988

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0573 HISTORIAN

Camille Mellinet

1795 - 1843

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0574 EXPLORER

Louis Say (explorateur)

1852 - 1915

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0575 WRITER

Patrick Barbier

Born 1956

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0576 JOURNALIST

Michel Perez

1932 - 1990

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0577 BUSINESS

Alain-Dominique Perrin

Born 1942

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0578 JOURNALIST

Jean-Gabriel Peltier

1765 - 1825

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0579 COMMUNICATION

Franck Louvrier

Born 1968

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0580 ACTOR

Edy Debray

1880 - 1974

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0581 ARTISTE

Jacques Yves Bruel

1948 - 2010

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0582 POLITICIAN

Jean Babin-Chevaye

1863 - 1936

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0583 ACTOR

Jean-Jacques Grand-Jouan

1949 - 2020

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0584 FEUDATORY

Catherine of Thouars

1201 - 1237

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0585 PAINTER

Pierre-Émile Cornillier

1862 - 1946

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0586 GEOGRAPHER

Maryvonne Le Berre

1940 - 2012

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0587 PHILOSOPHER

François Evellin

1835 - 1910

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0588 GOVERNOR

Thalour Du Perron

Died 1663

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0589 ANTHROPOLOGIST

Marion Aubrée

Born 1942

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0590 MILITAR

Yves Mahé

1919 - 1962

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0591 PRIEST

Michel Viot (1924-2007)

1924 - 2007

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0592 DANCER

Dominique Deniaud

Born 1977

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0593 MUSIC

Étienne Destranges

1863 - 1915

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0594 WRITER

Alexandre de Théis

1765 - 1842

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0595 PHYSICIAN

Jacques Robin (médecin)

1919 - 2007

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0596 CONDUCTOR

Maxime Pascal

Born 1985

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0597 PAINTER

André Fraye

1889 - 1963

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0598 ILLUSTRATOR

Sara (artist)

Born 1950

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0599 POLITICAL SCIENTIST

Sylvie Matherat

Born 1962

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0600 PRIVATEER

John Ordronaux (privateer)

1778 - 1841

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