Belleisle

Belleisle, CHARLES LOUIS AUGUSTE FOUQUET, DUC DE, marshal of France, born in 1684 at Villefranche, in Aveyron, was the grandson of the intendant Fouquet. He early distinguished himself in the wars in Italy and the Low Countries against Spain, and afterwards in Poland. In the war of the Austrian succession, he stormed Prague in 1741, and in the following year conducted the marvellously skilful retreat to Eger. In 1757 he was made war minister, and as such introduced important improvements in the French service, reforming the promotion and camp-discipline, and increasing the military schools. He died January 26, 1761, the last of his house.