AGUESSEAU, HENRI FRANÇOIS d'. — Born in Limoges in 1668, died in Paris in 1751. A French jurist and statesman; after holding various offices, he was appointed chancellor in 1717, a position he held intermittently until 1751. While serving as prosecutor general of the parliament, he vigorously opposed the registration of the Bull Unigenitus (v. XI) in France, a registration he later permitted in 1720 as chancellor. He gained considerable popularity, among other reasons, for his defense of Anglican liberties, despite being a Catholic. Some of his complex ordinances on procedure, donations, and inheritances are renowned.
Among his works are writings on political-religious history (Mémoires historiques sur les affaires de l'Église de France depuis 1697 jusqu'en 1710) and on the philosophy of law (Méditations métaphysiques sur les vraies ou sur les fausses idées de la justice, tinged with somewhat Jansenist hues).
Noteworthy from an apologetic standpoint is his work Lettres sur Dieu et la religion.