Jeanne Bécu, Comtesse du Barry August 19, 1743 - December 8, 1793 mistress of Louis XV the illegitimate daughter of Anne Bécu, who was variously reported as a seamstress or a cook. Her father was possibly Jean Baptiste Gormand of Vaubernier, a friar Her beauty came to the attention of Jean du Barry, a nobleman, in 1763. He made her his mistress and helped establish her career as a courtesan in the highest circles of Parisian society, enabling her to take several wealthy men as her benefactors. Finally rising to become the mistress of the king of France she lived the high life until the revolution her last words shortly before the guillotine neatly sliced of her head were “You are going to hurt me, please don't hurt me, just one more moment, I beg you!"