A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Barry, Marie Jeanne Vaubenier
BARRY, MARIE JEANNE VAUBENIER,
Countess du, was born at Vancouleurs, near the native place of Joan d'Arc, in 1744. Her reputed father was an exciseman of the name of Vaubenier. After his death her mother went with her to Paris, where she was placed in a convent, but soon left it to work at a fashionable milliner's. When she was about sixteen she became mistress to Count Jean du Barry; and soon after was presented to Louis the Fifteenth of France, who was immediately fascinated by her beauty. In order that she might appear at court, Guillaume du Barry, brother of Count Jean, consented to the king's desire, and married her, after which she was introduced to the court as Countess du Barry. Her influence over the king was excessive and of long duration, and she often used it to lead him to commit acts of injustice and imprudence. After the death of Louis the Fifteenth, Madame du Barry was shut up in a convent; but Louis the Sixteenth allowed her to come out, and restored to her the pension and residence left her by the late king. She showed herself grateful for this kindness, when Louis the Sixteenth and his family were imprisoned; for she came, regardless of her own danger, to England, to sell her jewels for the use of the queen and her chidren. On her return she was imprisoned and condemned, on the charge of "being a conspirator, and of having worn mourning in London for the death of the tyrant." She was guilotined on the 6th. of November, 1793. She wept much when going to the scaffold.