Maurepas

Maurepas, JEAN FRÉDÉRIC PHÉLIPPEUX, COMTE DE, a French statesman, born in 1701 at Paris. He was brought up for public life, and was early entrusted with office, but contrived to displease the all-powerful Pompadour, and was banished from court in 1749. He was recalled and made first minister at the accession of Louis XVI. (1774), and he succeeded in carrying out his policy of humiliating England by recognising the United States; but his was not the hand to hold the helm in the face of fast-gathering storms. Yet he brought into the ministry men far greater and wiser than himself—Turgot, Malesherbes, and Necker. He died 21st November 1781. His Mémoires (4 vols. 1792) were edited by his secretary, Sallé.