Emmanuel-Félicité de Durfort, duc de Duras (19 September 1715 – 6 September 1789,

Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; french: Château de Versailles ) is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about west of Paris, France. The palace is owned by the French Republic and since 1995 has been managed, u ...

) was a French politician, diplomat, peer,

marshal Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used for elevated o ...

and

Freemason Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...

(belonging to the ''l'Olympique de la Parfaite Estime'' lodgeGlachant Roger, Suffren et le temps de Vergennes, p. 372).

Biography

He was the son of

Jean-Baptiste de Durfort de Duras Jean-Baptiste de Durfort (28 January 1684 - Paris, 8 July 1770) was 3rd Duke of de Duras, Marshal of France and Pair de France. Biography Jean-Baptiste de Durfort is the second son of Jacques Henri de Durfort de Duras, duc de Duras, Marshal of Fran ...

and Marie Angélique Victoire de Bournonville.
Aged 18, by his father's abdication of the title, he was already a duke and a musketeer. He took part in all

Louis XV Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as Louis the Beloved (french: le Bien-Aimé), was King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five. Until he reache ...

's campaigns – that in Italy (1733–1734), on the Rhine (1735 et 1743), in Bavaria (1742), in Flanders (1744–1745) and in Germany (1760–1761). He served as French ambassador to Spain (1752–55), after which he was made a peer of France in December 1755 and

marshal of France Marshal of France (french: Maréchal de France, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished (1 ...

in March 1775. He was then given command of

Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, Historical region, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known ...

, the governorship of

Franche-Comté Franche-Comté (, ; ; Frainc-Comtou: ''Fraintche-Comtè''; frp, Franche-Comtât; also german: Freigrafschaft; es, Franco Condado; all ) is a cultural and historical region of eastern France. It is composed of the modern departments of Doubs, ...

and the post of premier gentilhomme de la chambre du roi. In 1755, he was made governor of Château Trompette. In 1757, he was made head of the "

Comédie-Française The Comédie-Française () or Théâtre-Français () is one of the few state theatres in France. Founded in 1680, it is the oldest active theatre company in the world. Established as a French state-controlled entity in 1995, it is the only state ...

" and the "comédie italienne". He was elected to seat 34 of the

Académie Française An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary education, secondary or tertiary education, tertiary higher education, higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membershi ...

on 2 May 1775. It is said he contributed to the editing of the articles on military science for the ''Encyclopédie''. Also a bibliophile, his library was dispersed at auction in 1790. His first marriage, in May 1733, was to Charlotte Antoinette de la Porte Mazarin (1719–1735), only daughter of the duc de Mazarin. His second, in June 1736, was to Louise Maclovie de Coëtquen, daughter of Malo III de Coëtquen, the phantom of

Combourg Combourg (; br, Komborn; ; Gallo: ''Conbórn'') is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in northwestern France. History The town is part of the Patrimoine Urbain de Bretagne and labelled as one of Les Petites Cités de Caract ...

mentioned by Chateaubriand. In 1761 he sold part of her dowry, including the county of Combourg to the father of Chateaubriand.

References

External links

Académie française
{{DEFAULTSORT:Durfort 1715 births 1789 deaths 4 18th-century French diplomats Marshals of France Members of the Académie Française Knights of the Golden Fleece of Spain Peers created by Louis XV 18th-century French military personnel 18th-century French politicians

Biography

See also

References

External links