Alexandre Dumas

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     In 1961 Haiti issued a set of 3 regular postage stamps and 3 airmail stamps to celebrate the connection between Haiti and Alexandre Dumas. One of the stamps has a map which shows the location of the home of Dumas' grandfather, General Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie.
     Alexander Dumas' great-grandfather was Antoine-Alexandre Davy de la Pailleterie (1710-1786). He married a black slave, Marie Céssette Dumas. Their son, Thomas Alexandre Davy de la Pailleterie (1762-1806) was born in Jeremie, Haiti. He assumed his mother's name, Dumas, to avoid embarrassing his family by his black ancestry. He became a General in the French army.
     General Dumas married Marie-Louise Elizabeth Labouret, and their son, Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) was in France. He created the "historical" novel, and published many articles, plays, and novels, including The Three Musketeers, The Man in the Iron Mask, and The Count of Monte Cristo.
      His son, Alexandre Dumas (known as fils-son to distinguish him from pere-father), was born before his marriage to Ida Ferrier in 1840. Following his marriage he continued numerous liasons with other women. Alexandre Dumas fils was also an author. His most famous novel is La Dame aux Camélias, The Lady of the Camellias.

SCN 472