Gérard de Lally-Tollendal

Trophime-Gérard, marquis de Lally-Tollendal (March 5, 1751 – March 11, 1830) is a French politician.

Born in Paris into an old aristocratic family, he is the legitimized son of Thomas Arthur de Lally, who serves as viceroy in India under King Louis XIV, and only discovers the secret of his birth on the day of his father's execution (May 9, 1766), when he devotes himself to clearing his father's memory.

He is supported by Voltaire, and in 1778 succeeds in persuading King Louis XVI to annul the decree which had sentenced the Comte de Lally, but the parlement of Rouen, to which the case is referred back, in 1784 again decides in favor of Lally's guilt.

The case is retried by other courts, and Lally's innocence is never fully admitted by the French judges.

In 1779 Lally-Tollendal buys he honorary title of Grand bailli of Étampes, and in 1789 is a deputy to the Estates-General for the of Paris.

He plays some part in the early stages of the French Revolution, but, as a conservative, quickly rejects more profound changes.

No related events match the current filters.