Madam de Pompadour was born Jeanne- Antoinette Poisson, long before she became the famous woman she is now. Furthermore, though she only lived for forty-three years, hers is a tale that lives on, due to the elegance, strength, and intelligence with which she conducted herself. Madame de Pompadour's "claim to fame" was her influence over, and role in the French government at the time of Louis the fifteenth.

Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson was born to the middle class parents, Francesco, and Louisa Maddalena De La Motte, in Paris, December 29, 1721. Early on, her mother saw that she was a determined girl and would earnestly do all she must to gain what she wanted, and what she wanted-as any girl of the age- was to be royalty.

Jeanne was already married to Guglielmo Lenormand de Tournehem-who enjoyed pleasing and spoiling her-by 1741. As a wedding gift, he gave her Etoiles Castle, and while...