Marguerite Steinheil

Marguerite Jeanne "Meg" Japy Steinheil, Lady Abinger (16 April 1869 – 17 July 1954) was a French woman famous for her many love affairs with important men. She became notorious when it became known that she was present at the death of President Félix Faure, who allegedly had a seizure while having sex with her. She was later charged with the murder of her husband and mother.

Steinheil was born Marguerite Jeanne Japy in Beaucourt, in the Territoire de Belfort, to a rich, industrial family, the daughter of Emilie (Rau) and Eduard Japy. She married the well-known French painter in July 1890. She became a prominent figure in Parisian society, and her salon was frequented by men of eminence in French political and social circles, including Gounod, Ferdinand de Lesseps, René Lalique, Jules Massenet, François Coppée, Émile Zola, and Pierre Loti.

In 1897, she was introduced, at Chamonix, to President Félix Faure, who was giving an official contract to Adolphe Steinheil. Because of this, Félix Faure came often to their home on the Impasse Ronsin.

Shortly afterward Marguerite became Félix Faure's mistress and was regularly ushered into the salon bleu in the private quarters of the presidential Palais de l'Élysée.

On 16 February 1899, Félix Faure called Marguerite by telephone, asking her to come to the palace at the end of the afternoon. Briefly after her arrival, servants were rung for and they found the president lying on the couch while Marguerite Steinheil adjusted her disordered clothing. Félix Faure died several hours later.

Legend has it that she was performing oral sex on him when he had a fit, and died, his convulsed hands tangled in her hair. Of course nothing of this was officially announced, but rumours started spreading immediately, although for several years it was believed that his partner at the time of his death was actress Cécile Sorel.

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