Aguesseau

Aguesseau, Henri Francois D', born at Limoges in 1668, was carefully educated by his father in all branches of liberal learning, and was specially trained for the profession of the law. At the age of twenty-two he became "Avocat-General" for the parliament or high court of Paris, where his eloquence and ability soon made him conspicuous. He exerted himself to uphold "Gallican liberties" against Papal encroachments in the case of Fenelon's censure; and in 1700 was made "Procureur General." In this office he effected many useful reforms, fighting in vain against the famous bull "Unigenitus" (1713), by means of which the Jesuits sought to crush their opponents. After the death of Louis XIV. he was, in 1717, created Chancellor of France. The next year, his opposition to Law's scheme and the influence of Cardinal Dubois led to his exile. He was recalled in 1720, and weakly lent his support to the registration of the Papal edict against which he had so boldly struggled. To satisfy popular discontent he was again banished, and spent five years in study. In 1727 he returned to Paris, and ten years later resumed the Chancellorship. He now devoted himself to legal reforms, and above all to the codification of the law. Retiring in 1750, he spent his last days in religious studies, dying in 1751.