Former bishop who directed French diplomacy through the Revolution, the Empire, the Restoration and the July Monarchy
Born in Paris in 1754 into an aristocratic family, he entered the Church and was appointed Bishop of Autun in 1788. As a deputy of the clergy in the Estates-General of 1789 he proposed the decree placing Church property at the disposal of the nation and the Civil Constitution of the Clergy. He became Foreign Minister of the Directory in July 1797 and, after 18 Brumaire, Napoleon's chief diplomat, securing the treaties of Lunéville and Amiens, but resigned as foreign minister in 1807. In April 1814 he led the Senate in setting up a provisional government, presided over it and steered the Bourbon Restoration, then negotiated for France at the Congress of Vienna. Appointed foreign minister and President of the Council in July 1815, he resigned in September. After the July Revolution he was ambassador in London from 1830 to 1834, and died in 1838.
Also known as: Prince de Talleyrand
Activities and affiliations
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1797–1799
French First Republic state institutionsMinister of Foreign Affairs
Diplomacy and international organization -
1799–1807
Consulate and First Empire state institutionsMinister of Foreign AffairsMain
Diplomacy and international organization -
1814–1815
French monarchy state institutionsPresident of the Provisional Government; President of the CouncilHeads of state and government of France
Government and administration -
1814–1815
French monarchy state institutionsChief French negotiator at the Congress of Vienna
Diplomacy and international organization -
1830–1834
France state institutionsAmbassador to the United Kingdom
Diplomacy and international organization
Career Timeline
- 1780Agent-General of the Clergy
- 1788Appointed Bishop of Autun
- 1789Deputy of the clergy in the Estates-General; proposed the nationalisation of Church property
- 1797.07–1799Foreign Minister of the Directory
- 1799–1807.08Foreign Minister of the Consulate and Empire
- 1814.04.01–14President of the Provisional Government
- 1814–1815Chief French negotiator at the Congress of Vienna
- 1815.07.09–09.26President of the Council of Ministers and Foreign Minister
- 1830–1834Ambassador to the United Kingdom