BELLE-ISLE, CHARLES LOUIS AUGUSTE FOU QUET, COMTE, and later Duc, DE (1684-1761), French soldier and statesman, grandson of Nicholas Fouquet, was born at Ville franche, Rouergue, on Sept. 22, 1684. He entered the army at an early age, and distinguished himself in the war of the Spanish Succession and in the Spanish war of 1718-19. In the war of the Polish Succession he was in command of a corps under Marshal Berwick, and on the conclusion of peace (1736) became gov ernor of the fortresses of Metz, Toul and Verdun and a mar shal of France. In 1741 he was employed by the French gov ernment in Germany to oppose the pragmatic sanction and to secure the election of Charles, Elector of Bavaria, as emperor. During the war of the Austrian Succession he stormed Prague (Nov. 26, 1741), and then executed that difficult retreat in 1742 to Eger, which was one of the most remarkable achievements of the French army in this campaign. In crossing Hanover on his way to Berlin he was captured by the English, but was exchanged in 1745. In 1746 he was placed in command of the "Army of Piedmont" in Provence, where he repelled the Italo-Spanish in vasion and carried the war into Lombardy. He was created duke and peer of France (1748) and was minister of war in carrying out substantial reorganizations in the army. He died at Versailles Jan. 26, 1761.