Joseph Bonnier de la Mosson

Joseph Bonnier (6 September 1702, Montpellier – 26 July 1744) was a French aristocrat, whose fortune allowed him to have an army career, notably as colonel of the regiment des Dragons-Dauphin and marechal des logis de la Maison royale. On his father's death he left Paris to take over his job as treasurer of Languedoc. Made baron of la Mosson, he built a folly, the chateau de la Mosson near Montpellier. A great lover of the arts and sciences, he became famous for the collection he built up in his Parisian hotel. On his death his fortune was squandered and the chateau sacked.