The Marquis de Mores was a nobleman. He received a military education and began service in 1880. A year later he resigned, moved to Paris, became an investor, and met the love of his life, the aristocratic Medora Von Hoffman. They wed in 1882. After moving to New York City, the Marquis became interested in ranching. He went to a rugged valley in the Badlands of Dakota Territory, on the Little Missouri River. The Marquis was quoted as being tired of having all the pleasures of Paris at his command. When he appeared with his valet, the few locals called him "The Crazy Frenchman." He was fluent in English, French, Italian, and German. So the crack cavalryman and his valet pitched a tent by the river. He Christened the spot with a bottle of fine wine, calling it Medora, after his beautiful bride. Medora, North Dakota, survives as the seat of Billings County. The Marquis bought lots of land, plenty of cattle, built a shelter for a start and commenced to the business of raising, slaughtering, packing, and shipping of quality beef. After some small time, a chateau was his shelter. Time to send for the Marquise. The couple ruled over the area in a genuine aristocratic manner. De Mores did so much more than that. The highlights of other endeavors include railroad building in Indochina and as a politician plotting to topple the French Government. In his time in the Dakotas, his magnificent, arrogant, and impetuous nature brought him under constant danger. He defended himself well with a gun, killing in defense. His wife was the second best shot in Dakota, right there with him. He carried two revolvers, a double-barreled shotgun, extra cartridges and a Bowie knife. From the Badlands, he returned to France, built railroads in Vietnam, created much political intrigue, and eventually ended up attempting to keep the British out of the interior of Africa. On the morning of June 9, 1896, his party was ambushed by the Tuareg. The Marquis killed several of his attackers before he was gunned down. At the trial of the assassins, his widow sought to prove the attack was ordered by the French. The tribunal was unconvinced.