HARCOURT, François-Eugène-Gabriel, Duke of. - French diplomat, b. 22 Aug. 1786 at Jouy-en-Josas (Seine-et-Oise), d. 2 May 1865 in Paris. Having entered upon a military career, he resigned in 1820. Entrusted by the Philhellenic Committee with a mission to Charles X to obtain his intervention on behalf of the Greek cause, he was unsuccessful. Elected deputy in 1827 and in 1830, he gave his adherence to the Orleanist monarchy after the July Revolution.

Appointed ambassador to Madrid, he tendered his resignation because he did not approve of the illiberal policy of Ferdinand VII. A peer of France in 1837, he was in favor of the progressive lowering of tariffs and opposed to the plan for the fortifications of Paris. When in 1848 Lamartine offered him the embassy in London he refused and went instead to Rome, where he represented the Second Republic until Sept. 1849. In the preparations for the departure of Pius IX for Gaeta the Duke of H. acted in full agreement with Baron Spaur and was, together with Baron de Rayneval, one of the French plenipotentiaries at the diplomatic conference of Gaeta.

Bibliography3 works

BIBL.: A. Robert, E. Bourloton, G. Cougny, Dictionnaire des parlementaires français, III, Paris 1890, p. 310; G. Mollat, La question romaine de Pie VI à Pie XI, ibid. 1932, passim; A. Capograssi, La conferenza di Gaeta del 1849 e Antonio Rosmini, Rome 1941, passim.

Silvio Furlani

@incollection{ec6_harcourt_francois_eugene_gabri, author = {Furlani, Silvio}, title = {Harcourt, françois-eugène-gabriel, duca d'}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {VI}, pages = {1362}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1951}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/harcourt-francois-eugene-gabriel-duca-d} }

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Harcourt, François-Eugène-Gabriel, Duke of

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