the archetype of the amicable frenchman, the marquis of croismare earned the nickname "the philosopher" for giving up ambition early in life. alternatively, very devout, strong-minded or indifferent, he fell in love with a protestant girl of his countryside, suzanne davy de la pailleterie. his fervor for the catholic religion was such that he made suzanne la pailleterie his proselyte. her conversion, effected on 30 october 1734 at cagny, is perhaps the only one he achieved. after his marriage, on 3 august 1735, she gave him two sons and a daughter. having lost her early, he nearly died of grief.