Marc-René de Voyer de Paulmy d'Argenson (1652-1721)
Encyclopedia
Marc-René de Voyer de Paulmy, 1st marquis d'Argenson (maʁk ʁəne də vwaje də polmi daʁʒɑ̃sɔ̃; 4 November 1652 – 8 May 1721) was a French politician.
, was ambassador
. According to tradition, he was declared a godson
of the Venetian Republic which accounted for the name Marc (Saint Mark being the patron saint
of Venice).
He was minister and lieutenant-general of police for 21 years, from 1697 to 1718. His name is closely linked with the post of Lieutenant General of Police of Paris
, which he largely defined, although his predecessor, Gabriel Nicolas de la Reynie
, was the first to hold that office and many of the innovations attributed to d'Argenson actually originated with de la Reynie. He played a significant role in the attacks on Jansenism
in the latter years of Louis XIV
, and it was he who expelled the nuns from Port-Royal-des-Champs in 1709.
Under the Régence
he served as Garde des Sceaux, a post corresponding with the English Lord Privy Seal
, from 1718 to 1720, when he was name president of the Council of Finances by the regent, Philippe, Duke of Orléans
. He unsuccessfully tried to save John Law's
Mississippi Company
scheme from bankruptcy
and collapse. As a result, he resigned.
The diarist Saint-Simon
described Argenson as a terrifying figure.
Argenson was made a member of the Academy of Sciences
and of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
in 1716 and of the Académie française
in 1718.
Argenson had two sons, René-Louis
and Marc-Pierre
. He died in Paris.
Biography
Argenson was born in Venice where his father, also Marc-RenéMarc-René de Voyer de Paulmy d'Argenson (1623-1700)
Marc-René de Voyer de Paulmy d'Argenson seigneur d'Argenson et de Vueil-le-Mesnil, comte de Rouffiac, was a French knight, politician and diplomat.-Biography:...
, was ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
. According to tradition, he was declared a godson
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
of the Venetian Republic which accounted for the name Marc (Saint Mark being the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of Venice).
He was minister and lieutenant-general of police for 21 years, from 1697 to 1718. His name is closely linked with the post of Lieutenant General of Police of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, which he largely defined, although his predecessor, Gabriel Nicolas de la Reynie
Gabriel Nicolas de la Reynie
Gabriel Nicolas de la Reynie is considered to be the founder of the first modern police force.-Early career:Born in 1625 in Limoges, France to a poor family, Gabriel Nicolas made a wealthy marriage in 1645 and took the name of Reynie, a minor lordship with an annual income of 200 pounds. He was a...
, was the first to hold that office and many of the innovations attributed to d'Argenson actually originated with de la Reynie. He played a significant role in the attacks on Jansenism
Jansenism
Jansenism was a Christian theological movement, primarily in France, that emphasized original sin, human depravity, the necessity of divine grace, and predestination. The movement originated from the posthumously published work of the Dutch theologian Cornelius Otto Jansen, who died in 1638...
in the latter years of Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
, and it was he who expelled the nuns from Port-Royal-des-Champs in 1709.
Under the Régence
Régence
The Régence is the period in French history between 1715 and 1723, when King Louis XV was a minor and the land was governed by a Regent, Philippe d'Orléans, the nephew of Louis XIV of France....
he served as Garde des Sceaux, a post corresponding with the English Lord Privy Seal
Lord Privy Seal
The Lord Privy Seal is the fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord President of the Council and above the Lord Great Chamberlain. The office is one of the traditional sinecure offices of state...
, from 1718 to 1720, when he was name president of the Council of Finances by the regent, Philippe, Duke of Orléans
Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
Philippe d'Orléans was a member of the royal family of France and served as Regent of the Kingdom from 1715 to 1723. Born at his father's palace at Saint-Cloud, he was known from birth under the title of Duke of Chartres...
. He unsuccessfully tried to save John Law's
John Law (economist)
John Law was a Scottish economist who believed that money was only a means of exchange that did not constitute wealth in itself and that national wealth depended on trade...
Mississippi Company
Mississippi Company
The "Mississippi Company" became the "Company of the West" and expanded as the "Company of the Indies" .-The Banque Royale:...
scheme from bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
and collapse. As a result, he resigned.
The diarist Saint-Simon
Louis de Rouvroy, duc de Saint-Simon
Louis de Rouvroy commonly known as Saint-Simon was a French soldier, diplomatist and writer of memoirs, was born in Paris...
described Argenson as a terrifying figure.
Argenson was made a member of the Academy of Sciences
French Academy of Sciences
The French Academy of Sciences is a learned society, founded in 1666 by Louis XIV at the suggestion of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to encourage and protect the spirit of French scientific research...
and of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
The Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres is a French learned society devoted to the humanities, founded in February 1663 as one of the five academies of the Institut de France.-History:...
in 1716 and of the Académie française
Académie française
L'Académie française , also called the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution,...
in 1718.
Argenson had two sons, René-Louis
René-Louis de Voyer de Paulmy, marquis d' Argenson
René-Louis de Voyer de Paulmy, marquis d'Argenson was a French statesman, son of Marc-René de Voyer de Paulmy d'Argenson, the first Marquis d'Argenson, and brother of Marc-Pierre d'Argenson...
and Marc-Pierre
Marc-Pierre de Voyer de Paulmy, comte d'Argenson
Marc-Pierre de Voyer de Paulmy, comte d'Argenson was a French politician, son of the 1st Marquis d'Argenson and the younger brother of René Louis d’Argenson. d'Argenson became general lieutenant of the Paris police in 1720, 1737 Intendand of Paris and 1743 secretary of state for war...
. He died in Paris.