Philippe d'Auvergne, facing right in brown coat, white waistcoat and frilled cravat, powdered hair en queue

Philippe d'Auvergne (1735-1816) was a descendant of the younger line of the Dukes of Bouillon which had emigrated to England during the Middle Ages. At the end of the 18th century, the last Duke of Bouillon whose only son was disabled, tried to save his Duchy from extinction and ordered research to find his closest relative. This was Philippe d'Auvergne who was serving in the English Royal Navy. He was nominated by the last Duke of Bouillon as his successor and recognized by the Duke's son in 1791 and by King George III in 1792. Philippe, who had left the Royal Navy for health reasons in 1790, became Governor of Jersey where he assisted refugees from Revolutionary France. After the deaths of the old Duke and his son, Philippe went to France in order to recover his lands which had been annexed by the Revolutionaries but was imprisoned and later expelled. He returned to England, re-entered the Navy and became Vice-Admiral in 1813. During Napoleon's exile at Elba, Philippe finally became the ephemeral ruler of Bouillon but after the Vienna Congress, his territory was incorporated into the Netherlands and his title transferred to the Duke of Montbazon. Philippe d'Auvergne committed suicide in 1816.