Francis de la Rochefoucauld

Francois de la Rochefoucauld, Marquis de Montandre, Field Marshal of England during the reign of William III and Mary II, Master General of the Ordnance, Privy Councillor of Ireland and Governor of the island of Guernsey was buried in a vault in the north ambulatory of Westminster Abbey on 15th August 1739. His grave was unmarked but on 15th January 2013 a new pale cream stone from Montendre in France was laid over the vault, near the entrance to St Paul's chapel. This was the gift of his descendant the Duc de La Rochefoucauld-Doudeauville. At the top of the stone are the Field Marshal's incised coat of arms and the inscription reads:

FRANCOIS de LA ROCHEFOUCAULD MARQUIS de MONTENDRE 1672-1739 FIELD MARSHAL of GREAT BRITAIN

He was a son of Charles Louis, 2nd Marquis of Montendre and his wife Madeline-Anne (Pithou). He fled to England during the religious persecution in France and served in the British army, gaining rapid promotion and becoming a Major General in 1706 and finally Field Marshal just before his death on 8th August 1739. His wife Mary Ann died on 5th February 1772 aged 89 and was buried with him. She was the daughter of Prussian ambassador Ezekiel, Baron Spanheim and his wife Anna Elizabeth. She married Francis at St James's church Westminster on 21st April 1710 and was a notable lady in English Society. Her father was buried in St Paul's chapel in the Abbey but without any grave inscription.