Frédéric Rimbaud

Who is Frédéric Rimbaud?

Frédéric Rimbaud, born 7 October 1814 in Dole, and died 16 November 1878 in Dijon, was a French infantry officer. He served in the conquest of Algeria, the Crimean War and the Sardinian Campaign. He is best known as the father of the poet, Arthur Rimbaud.

Rimbaud, a Burgundian of Provençal extraction, was a captain in the 47th Regiment of Infantry; he had risen from the ranks, and he had spent much of his service outside of France. From 1844-1850, he participated in the conquest of Algeria and in 1854 was awarded the Légion d'honneur "by Imperial decree". Captain Rimbaud was described as "good-tempered, easy-going and generous". He had literary ambitions, had written guides for Arabic learners and had translated the Quran into French In October 1852, Rimbaud, then 38, was transferred to Mézières when he met his future wife then 27, Marie Catherine Vitalie Cuif, while on a Sunday stroll. On 8 February 1853, they married. They had five children:

Nicolas Frédéric, born 2 November 1853

Jean Nicolas Arthur, born 20 October 1854

Victorine-Pauline-Vitalie, born 4 June 1857