Henri Jacques Nompar de Caumont, 5th Duke of La Force
Henri Jacques Nompar de Caumont, the 5th Duke of La Force (5 March 1675 – 20 July 1726), was a French nobleman and member of the Académie française. He was the son of Jacques-Nompar II de Caumont, duc de La Force, and Suzanne de Beringhen. In 1698 he married Anne Marie Beuzelen de Bosmelet; they had four daughters, all of whom died in childhood.
He inherited the title duc de Caumont from his father and, in 1700, became duc de La Force. He also held many other titles, including comte de Mussidan and several lordships. He served as a colonel of a regiment and as a councillor to the regency and to finance.
In 1712 La Force helped found the Académie Nationale des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts de Bordeaux and became a member of the Académie française in 1715 (seat 7). He was vice-chairman of the Board of Finance in 1716 and deputy finance minister from 1718 to 1719. He had clashes with Parliament over bankruptcy laws.
He died on 20 July 1726 and was buried in Périgord. He was succeeded by his younger brother Armand-Nompar. His widow died on 16 November 1752. His former Paris residence, the Hôtel de La Force, later became La Force Prison.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 14:30 (CET).