Intendant

Intendant, the name given in France before the Revolution to the overseer of a province. Under the complete system of centralisation established by Richelieu these intendants became the mere organs of the royal minister. The National Assembly, in 1789, established in each department an elective administration. Napoleon virtually restored the intendants, but exchanged the hated name for that of Prefects (q.v.). Intendant is the name of the person in charge of an estate, and there are intendants militaires, intendants de la marine, &c.