Argenson

(a ˙ r-zha ˙ n ˙ -sōn ˙ ), Marc Pierre de Voyer, Comte d', celebrated French statesman, born in 1696, died 1764. After holding a number of subordinate offices he became minister for foreign affairs, and succeeded in bringing about the Congre of Breda, which was the prelude to that of Aix-la-Chapelle. He was present at the battle of Fontenoy, and was exiled to his estate for some years through the machinations of Madame Pompadour. His Considérations sur le Gouvernement de la France was a very advanced study on the po ibility of combining with a monarchic form of government democratic principles and local self-government. Les E ais, ou Loisirs d'un Ministre d'État , published in 1785, is a collection of characters and anecdotes in the style of Montaigne.