Marie Duplessis was a French courtesan born on January 15, 1824, in Villers-sur-Mer, Normandy. She became famous for her beauty and charm, attracting wealthy and influential men in 19th-century Paris. Her life was marked by luxury and tragedy, as she struggled with illness and the pressures of her lifestyle. Duplessis is best known for inspiring the character of Marguerite Gautier in Alexandre Dumas fils' novel, "La Dame aux Camélias." This story later became the basis for the opera "La Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi. Marie Duplessis died on February 3, 1847, at the young age of 23, leaving a lasting legacy in literature and the arts.