François-Maurice de Cointet de Fillain

François-Maurice de Cointet de Fillain (22 April 1766 – 21 April 1809) was a French military man and Governor General of Guiana from 1794 to 1796.

Early life François-Maurice de Cointet de Fillain was born in Ensisheim, France on 20 April 1766 from Henri-François de Cointet de Fillain, a career military man and hereditary Bailly du Roi at Ensisheim, and Anne-Louise-Françoise de Beurville.

Little is known about Cointet's childhood. He likely lived at the family home in Ensiheim and went to the college of Colmar once of age. Cointet was left the most senior from France and was given a promotion, now commanding the battalion with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. From this marriage a girl, Adèle, was birthed on 6 April 1805. In 1804, Cointet started a trading house with his close friend Dernois named "Dernois, Cointet et Cie". He did not participate in the trading house's business. While giving birth, Sophie-Antoinette died on 31 August 1805 while giving birth. A year later, Cointet married his third wife, Marie-Fidèle-Adélaide de Fladslanden, at Hollenbach, Bavaria. Going forward, Cointet's lifestyle was more luxurious.

Cointet fell seriously ill and despite medical care died at his home on 21 April 1809.

Evaluation Cointet was more strong-armed than his predecessor. When required, Cointet could be decisive and authoritarian. This style, characteristic of the Year II in France, earned Cointet many enemies (including the ordonnateur Corio).

During his tenure, Cointet managed to impose order in Guiana. Cointet was also an idealist, although often restrained by his difficult position. He worked toward reconciling whites and blacks in Guiana despite this project's implausibility. He categorically refused forcing newly freed slaves to work by coercion and recognized freed slaves' right to enjoy the fruit of their work and own property. Cointet also gave rewards and retirement pensions to requisitioned workers based on merit.