Edmé Champion, a jeweller born in the Yonne in 1764, was for more than thirty years “le petit manteau bleu” — the little blue cloak — whom all Paris passed without knowing his name. Dressed in blue, he went through the streets and gave his alms without a sound, and his identity was learned only in 1848, after thirty years of secrecy. The nickname is carved by way of a title, straight after the name; of the jeweller, not a word.
The story
For more than thirty years all Paris knew “the little blue coat” without knowing who he was: a man dressed in blue, seen going through the streets and handing out alms without a word. His name was Edmé Champion, he was a jeweller, and his identity was not revealed until 1848.
Born at Châtel-Censoir, in the Yonne, on 13 December 1764, Edmé Champion was a jeweller by trade. His silhouette became a legend under the Empire and then the July Monarchy — the coat had ended up serving as a signature.
He died on 2 June 1852, at eighty-seven. His stone in Division 1 engraves the nickname like a title, immediately after the name, with the dates to the day and the old abbreviations for the months — “Xbre” for December, “7bre” for September.
His wife Edmée Marie Jobbé, who died eleven years before him, is named there too. Of the jeweller's trade, nothing; of the secret kept for thirty years, nothing either — only the four words by which Paris had named him.
The grave
A stone that carves the nickname like a title: “Sépulture de Edme CHAMPION Le petit manteau bleu né le 13 Xbre 1764 décédé le 2 juin 1852.” — the little blue cloak, born 13 December 1764, died 2 June 1852. His wife follows: “Edmée Marie JOBBE épouse de Edme CHAMPION née le 22 février 1767 décédée le 5 7bre 1841.” — wife of Edme Champion, born 22 February 1767, died 5 September 1841. The abbreviations Xbre and 7bre stand for December and September, a common usage in the early nineteenth century. Nothing there tells of the jeweller's trade, nor of the thirty years of anonymous alms.
On site, do not miss
The nickname carved beside the name: “Sépulture de Edme CHAMPION Le petit manteau bleu” — the little blue cloak. Note the old abbreviations of the months: Xbre for December, 7bre for September.
Visitors' questions
Where is the grave of the little blue coat?
In Division 1, avenue Thirion, fifth row. The inscription carves the nickname beside the name: “Sépulture de Edme CHAMPION Le petit manteau bleu”, the grave of Edme Champion, the little blue coat. He died on 2 June 1852, at eighty-seven.
Clotilde de VauxWhy that nickname?
Because he walked Paris in a blue coat handing out alms without a word. The coat had become his sign, and all Paris knew “le petit manteau bleu” without knowing who he was.
Richard WallaceWhen was his identity discovered?
Not until 1848 — more than thirty years after his rounds began. He was a jeweller by trade, and had been a figure of legend under the Empire and then the July Monarchy.
François-André BaudinWhat does his inscription say?
It carves the nickname, the dates to the day and his wife: “Sépulture de Edme CHAMPION Le petit manteau bleu né le 13 Xbre 1764 décédé le 2 juin 1852. Edmée Marie JOBBE… décédée le 5 7bre 1841.” “Xbre” is December and “7bre” September: these abbreviations were common in the early nineteenth century.
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