Malesherbes

Malesherbes, Chretien Guillaume de (1721-94), minister of Louis XVI., and counsel for his defence. He was born of a legal family, and in his official capacity at Court had the control of the press, a position which enabled him to advance the cause of the Encyclopedic. As minister of the King's Palace in 1775 lie did much to abolish lettres de cachet. After a time spent in country retirement he was recalled to Court in 1787, soon afterwards again to retire, first to the country, then to Switzerland. He came over, however, to defend the king before the Convention, and was soon after arrested in his country retirement, and guillotined with most of his family.