Vincent Rumpff

On 25 October 1825, he was married to the American heiress Eliza Astor (1801–1838), a daughter of Sarah Cox (née Todd) Astor and John Jacob Astor.^[12] Eliza's father was born in the Electoral Palatinate before moving to America just after the end of the American Revolution, where he prospered as a merchant and investor, becoming the wealthiest person in the country.^[12] Upon their marriage, Astor settled $300,000 on her,^[13] and gave her the Villa Le Saugy at Genthod, where they spent their summers.^[3][a] Later, the Rumpffs lived in Rolle in the canton of Vaud on the northwestern shore of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. They did not have any children.^[13]

In light of riots in Paris which led to the July Revolution of 1830, and the abdication of French King Charles X, Rumpff sent his wife back to America. She arrived in New York after King Louis-Philippe was restored to the throne. His wife returned to Paris with her sister Dorothea who lived in Paris for several years. Although they were welcome at the court of King Louis-Philippe and Queen Marie Amelie, his wife gave up court appearances, balls, going to the theater, and "other worldly leisure" to focus on charities.^[13] In Paris, she created a library of inspirational books for children of the English-speaking residents of Paris. She also opened a school at her villa at Genthod.^[13]

His wife died in Rolle on 11 April 1838 and was buried at the Cimetière de Bursins. After her death, in 1839, her memoirs were published together with the memoirs of Albertine, Baroness Staël von Holstein, under the title: Transplanted Flowers: Or, Memoirs of Mrs. Rumpff, Daughter of John Jacob Astor, Esq., and the Duchess De Broglie, Daughter of Madame De Stael. They were referred to as "models of peacetime progress and religious purity".^[21]

Rumpff died on 13 February 1867 in Paris and was buried at his property, Saint-Vincent, near Gilly.

Notes

Sources

• Engraving of Mrs. Rumpff at The Library Company of Philadelphia
• Domaine du Saugy à Genthod