ETIENNE ERANcolS, Due de (1719.85). A French statesman. lie fought bravely in the War of the Austrian Succession, but did not attain any prominence until later, when his attractive hearing and disposition won for him the favor of Madame de Pompadour, and as long as she lived his advancement was continuous and reg ular. Ile was made lieutenant-general in 1748. In 1756 lie was sent as ambassador to Rome, where he adjusted with Pope Benedict XIV. the dispute over the sacraments. In the same year lie went to Vienna, intrusted with the mis sion of uniting Austria with France against Prussia. After accomplishing this he was made Minister of Foreign Affairs (175S) and created Due de Choiseul (he had formerly been Count Stainville). lie was the author of the Paetc de famine, which in 1761 brought about the alli ance of all the Bourbon crowns against foreign aggression. his popularity with the Court and the nation was increased when in 1763 he secured terms of peace for France, which, though hu miliating, were far better than the French dared to hope for. Ilis reputation was enhaneed by his
success in suppressing the Jesuits, whom Aladame de Pompadour had come to hate no less than did the nation. His patroness died in 1764, but Choiseul continued to direct both the internal and external affairs of France. Ile was a skillful courtier and shrewd diplomatist. and so con trolled the intrigues of European courts that Catharine II. of Russia gave hint the name le cocker de l'Europe (`the Coachman of Europel. In 1768 he brought Corsica under French domin ion, In 1770 Madame du Barry enured his this missal. He lived magnificently in Chanteloup and (under Louis XVI.) in Paris. He died May 7, 1785. Consult: Me-moires de Choiseul (2 vols.. Paris, 1790) ; Boutry, Choiseul d Route (Paris, 1895) ; Broglie, L'illianee autrichienne (Paris, 1895).