The Passy family is a French political family which had prominent members in 19th Century politics and 20th Century linguistics. Notable members of the family are all descended from Louis François Passy. He was born in Eure in northern France, and members of the family remained within the area for over a century.
The five sons of Louis François and Jacquette Pauline Hélène d’Aure held various positions within politics and the military, with two of them joining the Chamber of Deputies and one becoming Minister of Finance. They had one daughter, who married a factory owner from Gisors. The children of the Passy siblings carried on the political and military connection, becoming Deputies or marrying into influential aristocratic families. One member of the family, Frédéric Passy, was awarded the first Nobel Peace Prize, and others became notable phoneticians. Over the years, the family came into possession of three large houses, but they no longer remain within the family.
Origins - Louis François Passy
Louis François Passy (29 February 1760 – 11 July 1834) was born in Étrépagny, in Eure. He worked as a stockbroker, then became Receiver General in Dyle in Brussels (then part of France).
In 1791, Louis François married Jacquette Pauline Hélène d’Aure (1772–1843). She was born into an aristocratic family: her brother was the Count d'Aure, a riding master under Louis XVIII. Louis François and Jacquette had five sons and one daughter.
Antoine François line
Antoine François Passy (1792–1873) was the son of Louis François Passy and Jacquette Pauline Hélène d’Aure. He was elected Deputy in Eure from 1837 until 1848, and worked within the Ministry of the Interior while his brother Hippolyte was a minister.
He married Anne Henriette Péan de Saint-Gilles.
Louis Passy
Louis Charles Paulin Passy (1830–1913) was the son of Antoine François Passy and Anne Henriette Péan de Saint-Gilles. As a historian, he researched Normandy and focused specifically on the county of Vexin. He first ran for office as an Independent Liberal in 1863, and was elected Deputy of Eure from 1871 until 1913 as a Moderate Liberal. He was Undersecretary of Finance from 1874 until 1877. He was the secretary of the from 1884, and a member of the . At the time of his death in 1913, he was the oldest member of the Chamber.
He married Françoise Wolowska, the daughter of Louis Wolowski.
Marie Françoise Passy
Marie Françoise Louise Adelaïde Passy was the daughter of Louis Passy and Françoise Wolowska. She became on marriage, and had children.
Hippolyte line
Hippolyte Philibert Passy (1793–1880) was the son of Louis François Passy and Jacquette Pauline Hélène d’Aure. After serving in Russia under Napoleon, he was elected Deputy for Louviers in Eure in 1830. He served as Minister of Finance multiple times over the next ten years. He retired from politics in 1851, following Napoleon III's coup d'état.
He married Claire Fourmont-Tournay, daughter of Gisors's mayor, Eustache Fourmont-Tournay.
Edgar Passy
Edgar Passy was the son of Hippolyte Passy and Claire Fourmont-Tournay. He was involved in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an embassy secretary. He was also a member of the , nominated by Jules Desnoyers and his uncle Antoine François.
Justin Félix line
Justin Félix Passy (1797–1872) was the son of Louis François Passy and Jacquette Pauline Hélène d’Aure. He joined the military and fought at the Battle of Waterloo. In 1832, he was named (Second class referendum advisor), replacing Bergeron d'Anguy. In 1856, he was promoted to the rank of officer in the Legion of Honour.
In 1821, he married Marie Louise Pauline Salleron. Her family made their money through tanning, and Félix joined his father-in-law's business after moving into the family home.
Marie Louise Pauline Salleron died in 1827, and Félix married Irma Moricet (his son's mother-in-law) in 1847.
Marie-Hélène Passy
Marie-Hélène Passy was the daughter of Justin Félix Passy. In 1871, she married Auguste Humbert Louis Berlion, Viscount de la Tour du Pin Chambly de La Charce.
Agathe Passy
Agathe Passy (died 1843) was the daughter of Justin Félix Passy and Marie Louise Pauline Salleron.