PIGNEAU DE BEHAINE, PIERRE-JOSEPH-GEORGES. – Missionary, born at Origny-en-Thiérache (Aisne, France), he pursued his studies in Paris at the Collège des Trent-Trois and entered the priesthood at the Seminary of the Foreign Missions of Paris in 1765.
On 9 September of the same year he departed for Cochinchina, and subsequently became professor (1767) and superior (1769) of the Seminary founded by Mgr. Pallu for the indigenous clergy. Appointed in 1771 bishop of Adran and coadjutor to the apostolic vicar of Cochinchina, whom he succeeded on 21 June of the same year, he was consecrated at Madras on 24 February 1774 and then remained in Cambodia. During the civil war he took under his protection the young prince Nguyen-anh, last representative of the royal family massacred by the Tay-son rebels, and had a treaty of alliance signed at Versailles on 28 November 1787 between the king of France, Louis XVI, and the pretender to the throne of Annam, whom he helped to regain power. The political role played by P. did not cause him to neglect his duties as apostolic vicar. His aim was to convert the young Emperor and make him the Constantine of Indochina. He died on 7 October 1799 near Quinhon and was buried with royal honours in a magnificent mausoleum.