Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes (December 20, 1717 - February 13, 1787) was a French statesman.
Born in Dijon, France, he was introduced to the profession of diplomacy by his uncle, M. de Chavigny, under whom he saw his first service at Lisbon. His successful conduct of French interests at the court of Trier in 1750 and the following years led to his being sent to Constantinople in 1755, first as minister plenipotentiary, then as ambassador. In 1768 he was recalled, ostensibly because of his relationship with Mme Testa, widow of a Pera surgeon, but really because Choiseul thought him not zealous enough in provoking a quarrel between Russia and Turkey.
After Choiseul's death he was sent to Stockholm with instructions to help the aristocratic party of the "Hats" with advice and money. The revolution by which Gustav III of Sweden (August 19, 1772) secured power was a great diplomatic triumph for France. With the accession of King Louis XVI, Vergennes became foreign minister. His general policy was one of friendly relations with Austria, combined with the limitation of the Emperor Joseph II's ambitious designs; the protection of Turkey; and opposition to Britain.
His hatred of the British and his desire to avenge the disasters of the Seven Years' War led to his support of the American colonists in the War of Independence, a step which would help bring about the French Revolution of 1789. Vergennes sought by a series of negotiations to secure the armed neutrality of the Northern Powers eventually carried out by Catherine II of Russia; he ceded to the demands of Pierre Beaumarchais that France should secretly provide the Americans with arms and volunteers.
In 1777 he informed the American commissioners that France acknowledged the Republic and was willing to form an offensive and defensive alliance with the new state. In domestic affairs Vergennes belonged to the old school. He intrigued against Necker, whom he regarded as a dangerous innovator, a republican, a foreigner and a Protestant. In 1781 he became chief of the council of finance, and in 1783 he supported the nomination of Calonne as controller general. Vergennes died on February 13, 1787, before the meeting of the Assembly of Notables which he is said to have suggested to Louis XVI.
See P Fauchelle, La Diplomatie francaise ella Ligue des neutres de 1780 (1776—83) (Paris, 1893); John Jay, The Peace Negotiations of 1782—83 as illustrated by the Confidential Papers of Shelburne and Vergennes (New York, 1888); L Bonneville de Marsangy, Le Chevalier de Vergennes, son ambassade a Constantinople (Paris, 1894), and Le Chevalier de Vergennes, son ambassade en Suede (Paris, 1898).
Initial text from a 1911 Encyclopedia. Please update as needed.
