Pauline André

Marie Louise Pauline André was born in her paternal grandfather's home in Thônes, Haute-Savoie, on June 27, 1814. She was called Pauline, possibly in honor of Her Imperial Highness, the Princess Pauline, whom her parents had both served. At the time of her birth her mother, Sophie, had been in Thônes for only six weeks; her father, Maurice, was away in Naples. He had accompanied the princess to her sister's and brother-in-law's home with an over-night stop at Elba to visit the exiled Napoleon. The infant Pauline lived for less than a year.