Marguerite Steinheil

Marguerite Jeanne "Meg" Japy Steinheil, Baroness Abinger (16 April 1869 – 17 July 1954) was a French woman known for her many love affairs with important men. She was present at the death of President Félix Faure, who was rumoured to have died after having a seizure while allegedly having sex with her. She was later tried for the murders of her husband and mother, but was acquitted.

Early life

Steinheil was born Marguerite Jeanne Japy in Beaucourt, in the Territoire de Belfort, to a rich, industrial family, the daughter of Émilie (Rau) and Édouard Japy. She married the French painter Adolphe Steinheil, son of painter Louis Charles Auguste Steinheil, in July 1890. They had a daughter Marthe Steinheil born on June 25, 1891. She became a prominent figure in Parisian society, and her salon was frequented by men of eminence in French political and social circles, including Charles Gounod, Ferdinand de Lesseps, René Lalique, Jules Massenet, François Coppée, Émile Zola, and Pierre Loti.

Mistress of President Félix Faure

In 1897, Steinheil was introduced, at Chamonix, to President Félix Faure, who was giving an official contract to Adolphe Steinheil. Because of this, Faure came often to their home on the Impasse Ronsin.

Shortly afterward, Steinheil became Faure's mistress and was regularly ushered into the salon bleu in the private quarters of the presidential Élysée Palace.

On 16 February 1899, Félix Faure called Steinheil by telephone, asking her to come to the palace at the end of the afternoon. Shortly after her arrival, servants were rung for, and they found the president lying on the couch while Steinheil adjusted her disordered clothing. Faure died several hours later.