Morny, CHARLES AUGUSTE LOUIS JOSEPH, DUC DE

Morny, CHARLES AUGUSTE LOUIS JOSEPH, DUC DE, a French statesman, believed to have been the son of Queen Hortense and of the Comte de Flahault, and consequently half-brother of Louis Napoleon. He was born in Paris, 23d October 1811, and adopted by the Comte de Morny. He entered the army in 1832, and served with some distinction in Algeria; but he soon abandoned a military life, and in 1838 made his début in the world of industry as a manufacturer of beet-root sugar. Ever after that time he was mixed up in all sorts of commercial and financial speculations—railway companies, canal companies, French and foreign mining companies, credit societies, and various industrial enterprises. Chosen a deputy in 1842, he quickly attained a prominent position on account of his aptitude for dealing with financial questions. After the revolution of 1848 he became attached to the cause of his half-brother, and was the leader of the subtle and treasonable policy of the Elysée. He took a prominent part in the coup d'état, and became minister of the Interior. In 1854–56, and again in 1857–65, he was president of the Corps Législatif, which he succeeded in reducing to subservience; and was ambassador to Russia during 1856–57, where he married the rich and handsome Princess Trubetskoi. He died 10th March 1865. The character of the 'Duc de Mora' in Daudet's Nabab is based on this clever and unscrupulous politician.