The Meilland Family is a multi-generational family of
French rose breeders. The family's first rosarian was gardener,
Joseph Rambaux, who first started breeding roses in 1850 in
Lyon. He is best known for developing the
Polyantha 'Perle d'Or'. His wife, Claudine and son-in-law, Francois Dubreuil, took over the family nursery after Rambaux died in 1878. Debreuil became a successful rose breeder and grower. In 1900, Dubreuil hired sixteen year old, Antoine Meilland, as a gardening assistant, working alongside Dubreuil's daughter, Claudia. Antoine and Claudia married in 1909 and their son,
Francis was born in 1912. The couple took over Dubareuil's nursery after his death in 1916. After
World War I, Antoine and Claudia bought property in
Tassin-la-Demi-Lune, near Lyon and started a new nursery. Their son, Francis, married Marie-Louise (Louisette) Paolino, daughter of an Italian rose breeder. Francis grew the nursery into a large, international company, and became the most famous and prolific rose breeder in the family. His legendary 'Peace' rose, brought the family international attention and great commercial success it was introduced after
World War II. The Meilland family merged their business with Francisque Richardier in 1946, so that Francis Meilland could focus solely on breeding roses. ==House of Meilland==