MORLOT, François-Nicolas-Madeleine. — Cardinal, born 28 Nov. 1795 at Langres, died 29 Dec. 1862 at Paris. Ordained in Paris in 1820, he immediately distinguished himself for his qualities as a preacher and became vicar general in 1830.
With the appointment of Bishop Rey, a prelate disliked by the majority of the French clergy and particularly by that of Dijon for his deference to the new state authorities, M. after 1832 was excluded from any participation in the government of the diocese. When Rey, seeing the impossibility of administering the diocese, resigned in 1838, M. became vicar capitular and the following year was appointed bishop of Orléans. In 1842 he supported, even financially, the resumption of the Correspondant’s publications in the form of a journal. In 1843 M. was transferred to the archbishopric of Tours, where he restored the Roman liturgy and also distinguished himself for his civic courage during the floods caused by the Loire in 1856. Created cardinal with the title of SS. Nereo e Achilleo in the Consistory of 7 March 1853, in 1857, after the assassination of Sibour, he was appointed archbishop of Paris.