born June 28, 1719, Lorraine, France
died May 8, 1785, Paris
French foreign minister.
He served with distinction in the War of the Austrian Succession . After serving as ambassador to the Vatican (175357) and to the Austrian court, he was made a duke and named minister of foreign affairs (1758), in which position he came to dominate the government of Louis XV . In 1761 he concluded a military alliance with Spain (the "Family Compact"), and at the end of the Seven Years' War he negotiated the best terms for a defeated France. He rebuilt France's military strength but was dismissed from office in 1770 for advocating war against Britain.