Stephen Grellet
Born a French nobleman, Etienne de Grellet du Mabillier fled to New York
to escape the French Revolution. Anglicizing and shortening his name to
Stephen Grellet, he encountered the writings of George Fox, joined the
Society of Friends, and eventually settled in
a house in Burlington City.
A world traveler, he visited every European nation but Portugal, as well as
Haiti, where he was called "Saint Stephen." Grellet discussed his Quaker
beliefs with dignitaries including the Kings of Prussia and Spain, Pope
Pius VII, and Czar Alexander I of Russia. Grellet's strangest distinction
was his status as the last living person able to identify the true "Lost
Dauphin" of France if the need arose - but it never did.
Grellet died in 1855, and is buried in the Quaker burial ground behind the
Burlington Meeting House. Two of his
chippendale chairs, donated by his daughter, are in the collection of the
Library Company of Burlington.
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