Houdetot, Sophie, Comtesse d' (1730–1813)
Houdetot, Sophie, Comtesse d' (1730–1813)
French poet. Name variations: Countess d'Houdetot; Mme Houdetot. Name variations: Sophie de Bellegarde. Born Élisabeth Françoise Sophie de la Livé de Bellegardé in Paris, France, 1730; died Jan 22, 1813; dau. of LouisDenis de la Livé de Bellegardé (rich fermier-général) and Madame de Bellegarde (d. 1743, sister of Florence-Angelique Prouveur de Preux, who was the mother of Madame d'Épinay); sister of Alexis Janvier de La Live de La Briche (1735–1785, secretair honoraire des commandements to Marie Antoinette); sister-in-law and cousin of Mme d'Epinay (1726–1783); m. the comte de Houdetot, 1748; children: son César Louis Marie François Ange (b. 1749) was governor of Martinique.
A sometime poet known more for her charm than beauty, had a relationship with Marquis de Saint Lambert which lasted until his death (1753); met Jean-Jacques Rousseau while staying with her cousin Mme d'Épinay at Montmorency; received a great deal of notoriety as the subject of Rousseau's Confessions in which he describes his unrequited passion for her. Her poetry was included in a volume of the work of Saint-John Crèvecour (1833).