Jean-François Honoré, baron Merlet

Born 15 September 1761, close to Doue, department of Maine-et-Loire, eldest son of Jean Merlet (1735–1793) and of Marie Madeleine Grignon de la Guiberdiere (1735–1794).

On 8 September 1791, the electoral college of his home department made him their third (of eleven allotted places) selection to be one of their deputies to the Legislative Assembly.

During the sessions of this assembly, he was part of several committees, most notably of Foreign Affairs, and of the Colonies, on which he defended the rights of people of colour, and promoted the cause of abolition of slavery.

When the French Monarchy finally fell (10 August 1792) he did not preside over the session (yielding the bench to Vergniaud), instead taking his place at the side of Louis XVI.

His political career was resurrected when he was appointed to the prefecture of the Vendée (9 Frimaire IX, or 30 November 1800),[3] a position he accepted despite the difficulties that a country still smoking from the fire of the civil war was to pose to his administration.

Counsellor of State to the Hundred Days, he chose, after the second Restoration of the throne of the Bourbons, a life in retirement, after having spent the greater part of his fortune in the service of his country.