12 Famous French Men That You Should Know

Regardless of stereotypes, French men have continually molded history and inspired future generations through their vision and ideas.

There is no doubt that there are many popular French men that made a mark across the world. From politics to sports, to authors and sportsmen – these men changed the world.

12 Famous French Men That You Should Know

Here are some of the most prominent and famous French men in history, spanning politics, the arts, and even sports.

Famous French Men: Leaders and Politicians

1. Louis XIV (1638- 1715)

Famous as: the King who built the town of Versailles

Louis XIV, commonly known as “Louis the Great,” “Sun King,” or “Absolute King,” is easily the most well-known king of France.

His name will always be associated with the city of Versailles, which he built from the ground up (or rather, from wetlands) to construct the masterpiece that is the Château de Versailles.

Historians and researchers estimate the cost of the castle he erected to be between two and three hundred billion dollars in today’s money, taking inflation into account.

Nonetheless, with 700 rooms, 1200 fireplaces, and 67 stairs, his château is a marvel of French classical architecture.

2. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1820)

Famous as: Emperor Of The French; the greatest military commander of all time; the author of the Napoleonic Code

In the last years of the French Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte emerged as a figure who would shape the country’s future.

He had a great impact and is regarded as one of the most illustrious military and political figures of all time. He was not only the First Consul but also the first ruler of France to be given the title of Emperor.

What set him apart were his tactics, which allowed him to win battles against opponents who were numerically superior to him.

The core concepts of old Roman law were merged with new French regulations in his Napoleonic Code. The code was used as a model for the codification of criminal and commercial laws in France and other countries.

READ MORE: Interesting Facts About Napoleon Bonaparte

3. Charles de Gaulle (1890-1962)

Famous as: Former President Of France

Charles de Gaulle demonstrated his leadership talents and the ability to be a great leader of his country since his days in the military as a teenager.

During his early days as a soldier, he expressed dissatisfaction with the outdated battle strategies utilized by his country’s army and even adjusted the plan to keep any dissent at bay.

He also objected to the French government’s plan to forge a peace deal with Nazi Germany.

De Gaulle eventually progressed through the ranks to become the president of his country, which he held for eleven years. His life serves as a powerful example of leadership that continues to inspire others today.

READ MORE: 12 Interesting Facts About Charles de Gaulle.

Famous French Men: Authors

4. Victor Hugo (1802-1885)

Famous as: one of the greatest and best-known French authors of all time

Many consider Victor Hugo to be one of the most famous and well-known French authors of all time.

He was also a politician and a human rights activist, but he is most known for his poems and books.

‘Les Contemplations’ and ‘Les Legende des Siècles’ are two instances of his remarkable poetry. ‘Les Misérables,’ ‘Notre-Dame de Paris,’ and ‘Les Travailleurs de la Mer’ are among his most well-known works.

His novels have been translated into various foreign languages, and he addresses the political and social themes of his time. Up to this day, his writings popularity still makes him one of the most popular French men of all time.

READ MORE: Interesting Facts About Victor Hugo

5. Jules Verne (1828-1905)

Famous as: book author; Father of Science Fiction

Jules Verne is one of the world’s most translated authors, dubbed “The Father of Science Fiction.”

This 19th-century science fiction and adventure novelist is credited with laying the groundwork for modern science fiction.

Verne was a visionary who wrote about futuristic inventions in his books. Electric submarines, newscasts, lunar modules, skywriting, videoconferencing, Tasers, and spaceships were all mentioned in his novels many years before they were invented.

‘Journey to the Center of the Earth,’ ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,’ and ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’ are just a few of his most well-known works.

He wrote 65 books, 30 plays, and many short stories during his lifetime.

READ MORE : Interesting Fun Facts About Jules Verne

Famous French Men: Fashion and Arts

6. Thierry Hermès (1801-1878)

Famous as: Fashion accessories designer: creator of the Kelly and Birkin bags

On the Grands Boulevards of Paris, Thierry Hermès founded Hermès as a harness workshop in 1837.

Originally, his goal was to supply saddles, bridles, and other leather riding equipment to European noblemen.

Hermès grew to become one of the most well-known saddlery dealers in the following decades.

The Kelly bag (formerly known as the Sac à dépêches and renamed the “Kelly bag” after Grace Kelly) and the Hermès carrés are two notable products introduced by Hermès (scarves).

The first Hermès silk tie was introduced in 1949, as was the first Hermès perfume, Eau d’Hermès.

Following a chat between then-CEO Jean-Louis Dumas and Jane Birkin on a journey from Paris to London in 1984, the “Birkin bag” was introduced and it became one of the iconic luxury brands in France.

READ MORE: Interesting Fun Facts About Thierry Hermes

7. Claude Monet (1840-1926)

Famous as: a founder of French impressionist painting; the most consistent and prolific practitioner of the movement’s philosophy

Since both the creative style and the movement’s name were drawn from one of his paintings, Impression, Soleil levant (1874), many regard Claude Monet as the father of Impressionism.

Monet is known for painting landscapes in France, particularly water lily ponds. He was able to properly portray how the sunshine influenced his subjects with a particular paint stroke style and color palette.

READ MORE: Interesting Facts About Claude Monet.

8. Paul Cézanne (1839-1906)

Famous as: French Post-Impressionist painter, whose works influenced the development of many 20th-century art movements; creator of the masterpiece “Mont Sainte-Victoire”

The Post-Impressionist paintings of Paul Cézanne revealed his intensive examinations of his topics.

His unusual brushstrokes and use of color created the basis for a drastically different art world in the twentieth century, and he is best known for his still-life paintings.

His work, like that of most other painters at the period, was mocked by reviewers and rejected by galleries. Younger artists who visited his studio in Aix revered him and considered him a master.

READ MORE: Interesting Facts About Paul Cézanne

9. Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Famous as: composer and pianist; composer of “Clair de Lune” 

Claude Debussy was born in the suburb of Seine-et-Oise, France, in 1862.

He began learning the piano at the age of seven and was studying at the Conservatoire de Paris by the age of ten.

Debussy’s compositional approach is generally referred to as impressionist after the 19th-century art movement, despite his dislike for the word.

Debussy composed many well-known works, but “Clair de Lune” for solo piano is perhaps his most recognized contribution to classical music.

“Suite Bergamasque,” “Deux Arabesques,” “La Mer,” “Prélude à l’Après-Midi d’un Faune,” and “La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin” are among the other prominent works.

READ MORE: Interesting Facts About Claude Debussy 

10. Gérard Depardieu (1948- )

Famous as:  one of the greatest French actors of all time

Gérard Depardieu is a well-known French actor who has appeared in many films. In 1974, he made his acting debut in the film Les values.

He is a producer, director, and businessman, in addition to being an actor.

Le dernier métro, La chèvre, the Astérix et Obélix films, Germinal, Jean de Florette, Tenue de soirée, and Inspecteur la bavure are just a few of his most successful films.

He was nominated for a César Award for Best Actor on numerous occasions but only won it twice. Most notable of which was for his role in the 1991 film Cyrano de Bergerac. 

Famous French Men: Sports

11. André the Giant (1946-1993)

Famous as: a professional wrestler; Fezzik the Giant in  The Princess Bride.

André the Giant was a long-time member of the ‘World Wrestling Federation’ (WWF) until his death from heart failure.

He was born and raised in Molien and showed early signs of gigantism. He came from an impoverished rural French background and grew up working on his family’s farm.

André traveled to Paris when he was 17 years old in search of a better job. A promoter soon brought him into the world of professional wrestling.

He joined the ‘WWF’ in the early 1970s and quickly rose to become one of the organization’s most popular wrestlers.

André has also acted in several films, the most well-known of which is his appearance as Fezzik the Giant in the smash film The Princess Bride.

12. Thierry Henry (1977- )

Famous as: a footballer and professional football coach.; one of the greatest strikers in the history of football.

Henry, France’s all-time leading scorer, is considered one of the game’s best attackers. Under Arsène Wenger, he began his football career with Monaco’s junior team.

Following the year 2000, Henry shifted to striker and quickly established himself as one of Europe’s most feared players.

After that, he went to Arsenal and then to Barcelona, where he helped his team win the Champions League Trophy in 2008-2009. He subsequently went on to play in the ‘Major League Soccer’ (MLS), where he excelled.

He is the first player in European football history to have won the FWA’s “Footballer of the Year” award three times. On four occasions, he has been named “French Player of the Year.

READ MORE: Interesting Facts About Thierry Henry