CHOISEUL-AMBOISE, ETIENNE FRANcOIS, Due de, minister of Louis XV., was b. June 18, 1719, educated by the Jesuits, and on the completion of his studies, entered the army. He fought bravely in the Austrian wars of succession; but only after he had attracted the fancy of the king's mistress, Madame Pompadour, did fortune also really favor him. Through the influence of Madame Pompadour, he was made lieut.-gen. in 1748, ambassador to the courts of Rome and Vienna in 1756, and due de Choiseul in 1758. C. now became instrumental in bringing about a family league of the Bourbon monarchs in Europe; and in 1763, at the close of the war so disastrous to the French arms, he obtained, by his prudence and dexterity, milder terms for his nation than had been expected. This made him very popular, as did also his successful attempt to overthrow the Jesuits. In 1764, Madame Pompadour died, but the power of C. continued unabated. He conceived, and almost carried out, a plan for the formal emancipation of the Gallican church from papal influence, paid great attention to the improvement of the army and navy, developed the trade and industry both of the nation and of the colonies, and opened up anew an intercourse with India, whose native princes were assisted by French officers in their endeavors to expel the British from the peninsula. He had spies in
every European court, and so ruled all diplomatic and political cabals, that the empress of Russia, who dreaded him, called him Le Cocker de l'Europe (" the driver of Europe"). But the rise of Madame Dubarry, who succeeded Madame Pompadour in the royal affections, gradually alienated Louis from his able minister, and in 1770 h6 retired to his magnificent estate of Chanteloup, where lie lived in princely splendor. After the acces sion of Louis XVI., C. received permission to return to Paris. He was often consulted, but never recovered his official position. He died May 7, 1785.