Overview
Guy de Wendel (22 April 1878 – 6 April 1955) was a French politician from a family of Lorraine industrialists, who served as deputy and then senator for Moselle, Lorraine. After the fall of France in World War II (1939–45), he voted in favour of granting Marshal Pétain the constitutional powers he had requested.
Early years (1878–1914)
The de Wendel family can be traced back to Jean Wendel of Bruges, who married Marie de Wanderve around 1600.
His descendants in the male line mostly pursued military careers.
Jean's descendant Jean-Martin Wendel (1665–1737) purchased an ironworks in Hayange, Lorraine, in 1704.
This was the foundation of the family's industrial operations.
He was ennobled as Jean-Martin de Wendel in 1727 by Leopold, Duke of Lorraine.
He was followed by eight generations of steelmakers.
Guy de Wendel was born on 22 April 1878 in Paris.
He was the son of the steel manufacturer Robert de Wendel (1847–1917).
He studied at the Lycée Jeanson-de-Sailly, and then obtained a diploma from the École des Hautes Etudes Commerciales.
On 25 December 1902 he married Emmanuella Catherine Argyropoulos (25 December 1878 – 2 December 1960).
His wife was the daughter of Alexandre P. Argyropoulos (1849–1909), Lieutenant Colonel in the Artillery of the Greek Army.
They had one daughter, Hélène de Wendel (1903–1986).
Guy de Wendel had a château built in 1906.
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
