Ismaël, Comte de Lesseps

Ismaël de Lesseps competed in sabre at the 1908 Olympics, alongside his brother, Bertrand de Lesseps. Another brother, Mathieu de Lesseps, competed in equestrian events at the 1900 Olympics. They were three of 17 children born to Ferdinand de Lesseps out of two different wives. Ferdinand de Lesseps was a French diplomat who later helped plan and develop the Suez Canal. All three brothers were also early French pioneers of aviation. A fourth brother, Jacques, who was not an Olympian, served in the 2nd Bombing Group of the French Service as a captain and pilot, and in August 1918 received the American Distinguished Service Cross for bravery.

Ismaël de Lesseps became a career military officer, joining the 3e Régiment de Chasseurs in the early 1900s, eventually rising to the rank of captain. In January 1913 he was made a Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur for services to France. In August 1914 he was mobilized with his regiment. De Lesseps was killed in action in Vigny, France in late September 1915.