House of Meeûs d'Argenteuil
Encyclopedia
De Meeûs is a noble
family from the region of Brussels
, Belgium
.
, with the title of count
. Whereas he may have been a family member of Jean-Philippe or Paul Meeûs who were ennobled in 1688, he certainly was not a descendant of one of them. He used the same coat of arms
, which was in use within his family, originally prominent members of the corporation of brewer
s in Brussels.
Ferdinand count Meeûs was a lifelong governor of the Société Générale
, founded under the Dutch King William I
and becoming a major economic player in the industrial development of the new Belgian kingdom
. He built a castle in the 1830's at the edge of the Zoniënwoud. Shortly after it was finished it burned down, and in 1858 a new castle was built at the same spot. In later years, his descendants sold a part of the land to an American businessman, William Hallam Tuck, who had married the Belgian heiress Hilda Bunge. The couple built a summer residence, 'Bellevue' or 'château Tuck'. This elegant mansion was sold to the Belgian government in 1949 and was used from 1961 on as the residence of former king Leopold III
and his wife Princess Lilian. It was named 'Domaine d'Argenteuil' since.
Most descendants of Ferdinand Meeûs were allowed to add 'd'Argenteuil' to their name (1937 - 1938). One branch of the family added 'de Trannoy' in supplement (1953).
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
family from the region of Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
History
In 1836 Ferdinand Meeûs (1798-1861), a scion of a commercial family, was ennobled by the Belgian king Leopold ILeopold I of Belgium
Leopold I was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians, following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
, with the title of count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
. Whereas he may have been a family member of Jean-Philippe or Paul Meeûs who were ennobled in 1688, he certainly was not a descendant of one of them. He used the same coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
, which was in use within his family, originally prominent members of the corporation of brewer
Brewer
Brewer may refer to:*Brewer, someone who makes beer by brewing*Brewer , a disambiguation page that lists people with the surname Brewer*Brewer, Maine, a city in southern Penobscot County, Maine, United States, near the city of Bangor...
s in Brussels.
Ferdinand count Meeûs was a lifelong governor of the Société Générale
Société Générale
Société Générale S.A. is a large European Bank and a major Financial Services company that has a substantial global presence. Its registered office is on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, while its head office is in the Tours Société Générale in the business district of La...
, founded under the Dutch King William I
William I of the Netherlands
William I Frederick, born Willem Frederik Prins van Oranje-Nassau , was a Prince of Orange and the first King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg....
and becoming a major economic player in the industrial development of the new Belgian kingdom
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. He built a castle in the 1830's at the edge of the Zoniënwoud. Shortly after it was finished it burned down, and in 1858 a new castle was built at the same spot. In later years, his descendants sold a part of the land to an American businessman, William Hallam Tuck, who had married the Belgian heiress Hilda Bunge. The couple built a summer residence, 'Bellevue' or 'château Tuck'. This elegant mansion was sold to the Belgian government in 1949 and was used from 1961 on as the residence of former king Leopold III
Leopold III of Belgium
Leopold III reigned as King of the Belgians from 1934 until 1951, when he abdicated in favour of the Heir Apparent,...
and his wife Princess Lilian. It was named 'Domaine d'Argenteuil' since.
Most descendants of Ferdinand Meeûs were allowed to add 'd'Argenteuil' to their name (1937 - 1938). One branch of the family added 'de Trannoy' in supplement (1953).
Notable members
- Ferdinand Meeûs, in 1836 count Ferdinand de Meeûs (1798-1861)
- André count de Meeûs d'Argenteuil (1879-1972), Grandmaster of the House of Queen Elisabeth
See also
- List of noble families in Belgium
- State University of Louvain