CHOISEUL, fiTIENNE FRANcOlS, DUC DE, born in 1719, rose to the highest offices in the state under Louis XV., and was in fact the ruling minister during a great part of that reign. He was made minister for foreign affairs in 1758, minister at war in 1761, and some years after he resumed the department of foreign affairs. He held this last office till December 1770, when in consequence of his imperious character, which had made him many enemies at court among men of all parties, among whom were the Mankind do Riche lieu and the Deo d'Aiguilion, he was exiled to his estate of Chanteloup, where he wrote his memoirs and a satirical comedy against the royal family, and especially against the dauphin, afterwards Louis XVI., styled 'Le Royaume d'Arle quinerie,' which he printed himself at Chanteloup and distributed among his friends. His memoirs were published at Paris in 1790, after his death. The administration of the Duo de Choiseul was singularly unfortunate. In the war against England, which terminated by the pence of Paris in 1763, France lost Canada, and her fleets, as well as those of Spain, were defeated; and in the Seven Years' war France took the part of Austria against Frederic of Prussia, who triumphed over both. Tho Duo de Choiaeure
partiality for Maria Theresa of Austria has been strongly censured. He concluded the marriage between Marie Antoinette and the dauphiu, afterwards Louis XVI. In 1760 he expelled the Jesuits from France. He is also said to have secretly encouraged the first symptoms of discontent among the English colonies of North America.
Tho personal character of the duke was generous though haughty ; ho was disinterested and splendid in his expenditure, by which ho ruined his own fortuuo. lie loved the arts and literature, and was a friend of Voltaire and the other literary characters of that age. Ilia enemies exaggerated his faults, and attributed to him crimes of which there is not the least evidence. He died at Paris in May 1785.
(Examen du Minisare du Due de Choiseul in the Dlemoires du Due d'diguillon.)