PRADT, pent, DOMINIQUE DE (1759-l837). A French prelate and diplomat. He was born at Allanche, in Auvergne, studied first in a military school, but was ordained priest in 1783, and pursued his theological studies at the Sorbonne, becoming doctor of theology in 1785. Made vicar-general of the diocese of Rouen in the same year. he represented it in the States Gen eral of 1789. and, siding with the Clerical Party. was forced to number himself among the `emigrants' in 1791. After the 18th Brumaire (November 9th) , 1709, however, he returned to Paris and was introduced to Bonaparte. who, on becoming Emperor, appointed him chaplain in ordinary, and shortly thereafter Bishop of Poitiers. For his part in negotiating the Treaty of Bayonne. in MOS. by which Napoleon de throned the House of Bourbon in Spain. he was rewarded with the Archbishopric of Mechlin. Sent to Warsaw as ambassador, in 1S12. his failure on this mission turned the favor of the Emperor, and he was retired to his diocese. He now openly embraced the cause of the Bour bons and Louis XVIII. nominated him
grand chancellor of the Legion of Honor, but in less than a year he was replaced by Marshal Macdonald and also relieved of his Archbishopric of Mechlin. in exchange for which, however. he received a pension of 12,000 francs from the King of Holland. He retired to his estate in Auvergne, devoted himself to literary pursuits, and, being elected Deputy from Clermont in 1827, sided with the opposition. He renewed his allegiance to the royalist party after the revolution of July. Among his numerous works may be named: Fir istoirP de rambassade dans le grand-duche de Varsorie en 1812 (1815: 9th ed. 1826) : Du congres de Vienne (1815) ; J/enmoircc historiqurs stir In rt'rolution d'Espagne (1816) : Des colonies et de la revolution actuelle de l'Amerique (1817) ; L'gurope et les colonies depuis le congres d'Aix-la-Chapelle (1821). Consult De Lastic-Rochegonde, Dominique de Pradt (Saint-Armand, 1897).