VERGENNES, CHARLES GRAVIER, COMTE DE (1717-1787), French statesman, was born at Dijon on Dec. 20, 1717. He entered the diplomatic service under his uncle M. de Chavigny, at Lisbon. He became ambassador at Constantinople and then in Sweden, where he assisted Gustavus III. in the revolution of 1772.
With the accession of Louis XVI. Vergennes became foreign minister. His general policy was one of friendly relations with Austria, combined with the limitation of Joseph II.'s ambitious designs; the protection of Turkey; and opposition at all points to England. His hatred of England led to his support of the Ameri can States in the War of Independence. Vergennes sought to secure the armed neutrality of the Northern Powers eventually carried out by Catherine II. ; he ceded to the demands of Beau
marchais that France should secretly provide the Americans with arms and volunteers. In 1777 he informed the American com missioners that France was willing to form an offensive and de fensive alliance with the new Republic. In 1781 he became chief of the council of finance. Vergennes died on Feb. 13, 1787.
See P. Fauchelle, La Diplomatie francaise et la Ligue des neutres de 1780 (1776-83) (1893) ; John Jay, The Peace Negotiations of 1782-83 as illustrated by the Confidential Papers of Shelburne and Vergennes (New York, 1888) ; L. Bonneville de Marsangy, Le Chevalier de Vergennes, son ambassade a Constantinople (1894) ; G. Grosjean, La politique rhinane de Vergennes (1925).