Claude-Nicolas Perier (May 28, 1742 - February 6, 1801) is assured an important place in French history when he opens his Château de Vizille near Grenoble to the famous meeting of the estates of the Province of Dauphiny (July 21, 1788) heralding the coming of the French Revolution.

He is notable also as the founder of the remarkable Perier family "bourgeois dynasty" that will rise to prominence and economic and political influence in France during the nineteenth century.

Claude's descendants become leading Paris bankers, regents of the Bank of France and owner-directors of Anzin, the major coal mining company of France in the Department of Nord.

They are mayors of towns, prefects of departments and members of municipal tribunals and chambers of commerce.

Many are elected representatives of departments to the Chamber of Deputies in Paris and appointed to France's Chamber of Peers.

Most notably, Casimir Pierre Perier (1777-1832), the fourth of Claude's eight sons, becomes Prime Minister of France in 1831-32 during the Orleanist monarchy of Louis-Philippe I.

Claude's grandson, Jean Casimir-Perier (1847-1907), is elected president of the Third Republic in 1894.

Claude Perier is sufficiently wealthy before 1789 to be known as "Perier-Milord" in Grenoble and surroundings, but it is mainly during the decade of revolution 1789-99 that he creates the financial underpinning of the Perier dynasty.

His eight sons and two daughters will share his enormous legacy of 5,800,000 francs.