Paul, 6th duc de Noailles (4 January 1802–29 May 1885),
historian, was the grand-nephew of the heirless Jean-Paul-François, 5th duc de Noailles, and succeeded him duc de Noailles on the latter's death in 1824,
although he did not take his seat among the peers of France until his majority in 1827. A Knight of the Golden Fleece, he was also noted as
a writer and parliamentary orator.
The duc de Noailles was elected to succeed his friend and confidant Chateaubriand to the Académie française on 11 January 1849 with twenty-five of thirty-one votes. As Honoré de Balzac at that time obtained only four votes, this development occasioned an outburst of protest in the litterary press. With the duc Pasquier and the duc de Broglie, the duc de Noailles formed the "parti des ducs" (dukes' party).
He was married on 5 February 1823 to Alicia de Rochechouart-Mortemart , daughter of Victurnien de Rochechouart, 8th duc de Mortemart ,
and had three children:
- Pauline-Victurnienne de Noailles
- Jules-Charles-Victurnien, 7th duc de Noailles
- Emmanuel-Henri-Victurnien, marquis de Noailles
