Charles Gravier of Vergennes

Charles Gravier, count de Vergennes is a statesman French, secretary of foreign affairs under Louis XVI, born the December 20th 1717 and dead the February 13rd 1787.

Biography

Born with Dijon, in a family of minor nobility, was " the wisest minister that France had met for a long time, and most skilful who was with the businesses in Europe" (Albert Sorel). It is initiated with the diplomacy by his uncle, Theodore de Chavigny, Ambassadeur with Lisbon, then with Munich and Frankfurt.

Its defense successful of the French interests at the court of Trier to leave 1750 leads it to be sent to Constantinople in 1754, initially as a Ambassador plenipotentiary, then as an ambassador.

He is recalled in 1768, officially to marry Anne Duvivier (1730-1798), girl of Henri Duvivier, is been born on October 16th, 1699 with Chambéry, and from Maria Bulo de Péra. She was widowed of Francesco Testa (Ca 1720-1754), member of the one of the most former and distinguished Latin families from Péra, regularly confused with her distance relative Francesco Testa (1717-1787), doctor of medicine of the university of Vienna (Austria) and doctor of Vergennes with Péra. The malicious gossip claimed it a former slave. In fact Choiseul considered Vergennes too not very dedicated to cause a quarrel in Russia and Turkey.

It was sent as ambassador to Stockholm of 1771 to 1774 to help the aristocratic party of the " Chapeaux" with councils and money. The revolution through which Gustave III of Sweden hardens its capacity was a great diplomatic success for France.

With the accession of Louis XVI with the throne of France, Maurepas, on the councils of the abbot of Véri, chooses Vergennes as Secretary of foreign affairs with the reason which it is “without entours”. In front of all in Maurepas, this last discounts that it will be faithful for him. It has then as a policy to be in friendly relations with the Austria, to limit the ambition of the emperor Joseph II, to protect Turkey and to be opposed to the the United Kingdom.

Its hatred of the British and its desire to be avenged for the Guerre Seven Year old leads it to support the American colonists at the time of the Guerre of independence of the United States of America. It yields at the request of Beaumarchais to secretly get weapons and volunteers with the Americans. In 1777, it declares France lends to form an offensive and defensive alliance with the new country which form the thirteen colonies.

For the interior matters, it remains preserving and intrigues in particular against Necker, which it looks like a dangerous reformer, republican, foreigner and Protestant. In 1781, it is named secretary of finances and supports the nomination of Calonne like General inspector of finances in 1783. To mitigate the financial dead end of the State, he advises with the king to join together the Assemblée of notable the, but he dies the February 13rd 1787, little time before his meeting.

The tomb of its Nevers-native family, is in the cemetery of Raveau (58400) where his/her son, Jean-Charles Gravier, baron de Vergennes, then its descent had the Château of Mouchy (baronie of Passy) of 1782 to 1871.

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