Charles-Geneviève-Louis-Auguste-André-Timothée d'Éon de Beaumont (hereinafter “Chevalier d’Eon”, “d’Eon”, or “D’Eon”), was born on October 5, 1728 to a noble family that held various military and political offices throughout France. Given D’Eon’s noble heritage, his opportunities for a career and advancement in both the military or politics were practically limitless, and he took full advantage of his status, graduating with a doctorate degree in law as well as becoming a master of fencing. But, though he may have been able to find a political position or practice law in relative peace and “normality”, his life was not meant to be anything close to normal or peaceful; he would have a hand in changing history through his political actions and, more significantly, through the gender role he decided to portray at the time.
D’Eon’s focus on his studies and his thirst for knowledge, which he displayed throughout his career, assisted him in his advancements. At that period in time, noble men hardly cared for laborious work, as a minutia of knowledge along with any social skills or wit they may possess, usually was sufficient. D’Eon had a dispassionate disposition and though he would laugh and joke, and drink copious amounts of wine like a true Burgundian, “he made …show more content…
But, also at this time, D’Eon’s father passed away and coincidentally, it is the first time that D’Eon’s gender comes in to question as his father said to him on his deathbed to not “be uneasy, my daughter; it is as natural to die as it is to live…” (Vizetelly: 10). His gender being the most significant aspect of his eccentric and volatile career, this mention by his father goes to the essence of D’Eon’s subsequent positions of political influence in France and why he was selected for the tasks that were necessary to be
D’Eon’s focus on his studies and his thirst for knowledge, which he displayed throughout his career, assisted him in his advancements. At that period in time, noble men hardly cared for laborious work, as a minutia of knowledge along with any social skills or wit they may possess, usually was sufficient. D’Eon had a dispassionate disposition and though he would laugh and joke, and drink copious amounts of wine like a true Burgundian, “he made …show more content…
But, also at this time, D’Eon’s father passed away and coincidentally, it is the first time that D’Eon’s gender comes in to question as his father said to him on his deathbed to not “be uneasy, my daughter; it is as natural to die as it is to live…” (Vizetelly: 10). His gender being the most significant aspect of his eccentric and volatile career, this mention by his father goes to the essence of D’Eon’s subsequent positions of political influence in France and why he was selected for the tasks that were necessary to be