René-Louis de Voyer de Paulmy, marquis d' Argenson
From Freepedia
(Redirected from René de Voyer de Paulmy, marquis d'Argenson)
René-Louis de Voyer de Paulmy, marquis d' Argenson (October 18 1694 - January 10 1757) was a French statesman, brother of Marc-Pierre d'Argenson. From 1720 to 1724, d'Argenson was Intendand of Hennegau, became privy counsel and from 1744 foreign minister. He negociated with Piemont to form a federation of Italian states. As last representant of the anti-Habsburg faction, he was overturned by intriges at the Spanish court and appointed president of the Academy of Inscriptions.
A friend of Voltaire and the Encyclopedists, he turned writing scientific tracts, among them Considérations sur le gouvernement ancien et présent de la France (Amsterd. 1764), and a tract important for understanding the inner machinations of France, Essais ou loisirs d'un ministre d'état (Par. 1787, 2 Vols.), rich in commentary and descriptions of noteworthy compatriots and anecdotes. His Memoirs are also of value as affecting the early and middle part of Louis XV's reign.
This article incorporates text from the public domain 1907 edition of The Nuttall Encyclopaedia.
