Nicolas Mesnager
Encyclopedia
Nicolas Mesnager (1658–1714) was a French
diplomat
.
He belonged to a wealthy merchant family, but gave up a commercial career for the law, and became advocate before the parlement
of Rouen
. In 1700 he was sent as deputy of Rouen to the council of commerce which was established in Paris
for the extension of French trade. Here he made his mark, and was chosen to go on three missions to Spain
, between the years 1704 and 1705, to negotiate financial arrangements. There he was appointed Harbor master of Cadiz and he improved trade between Spain and her colonies.
In August 1711 he was sent on a secret mission to London
to detach Britain from the alliance against France, and succeeded in securing the adoption of eight articles which formed the base of the later Treaty of Utrecht
.
As a reward for his skill he was made one of the three French plenipotentiaries sent to Utrecht
in January 1712, and had the honour of signing the treaty the next year. As he had used much of his own large fortune to keep up his state as ambassador, he was granted a pension by the grateful king of France. His portrait by Hyacinthe Rigaud
is in the gallery of Versailles
.
As a further show of recognition, he was awarded a grand-daughter of the Sun-King as wife. He married Louise Emilie de Vautedard (1694–1719), a daughter of Louis, Dauphin of France (1661–1711).
Both Queen Anne
of the United Kingdom
and King Philip V of Spain contributed to the coat of arms of Nicolas Ménager.
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France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
.
He belonged to a wealthy merchant family, but gave up a commercial career for the law, and became advocate before the parlement
Parlement
Parlements were regional legislative bodies in Ancien Régime France.The political institutions of the Parlement in Ancien Régime France developed out of the previous council of the king, the Conseil du roi or curia regis, and consequently had ancient and customary rights of consultation and...
of Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
. In 1700 he was sent as deputy of Rouen to the council of commerce which was established in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
for the extension of French trade. Here he made his mark, and was chosen to go on three missions to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, between the years 1704 and 1705, to negotiate financial arrangements. There he was appointed Harbor master of Cadiz and he improved trade between Spain and her colonies.
In August 1711 he was sent on a secret mission to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to detach Britain from the alliance against France, and succeeded in securing the adoption of eight articles which formed the base of the later Treaty of Utrecht
Treaty of Utrecht
The Treaty of Utrecht, which established the Peace of Utrecht, comprises a series of individual peace treaties, rather than a single document, signed by the belligerents in the War of Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht in March and April 1713...
.
As a reward for his skill he was made one of the three French plenipotentiaries sent to Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
in January 1712, and had the honour of signing the treaty the next year. As he had used much of his own large fortune to keep up his state as ambassador, he was granted a pension by the grateful king of France. His portrait by Hyacinthe Rigaud
Hyacinthe Rigaud
Hyacinthe Rigaud was a French baroque painter of Catalan origin whose career was based in Paris.He is renowned for his portrait paintings of Louis XIV, the royalty and nobility of Europe, and members of their courts and considered one of the most notable French portraitists of the classical period...
is in the gallery of Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
.
As a further show of recognition, he was awarded a grand-daughter of the Sun-King as wife. He married Louise Emilie de Vautedard (1694–1719), a daughter of Louis, Dauphin of France (1661–1711).
Both Queen Anne
Queen Anne
"Queen Anne" generally refers to Anne, Queen of Great Britain , Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1702, and of Great Britain from 1707.Queen Anne may also refer to:-Uses relating to Queen Anne of Great Britain:...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and King Philip V of Spain contributed to the coat of arms of Nicolas Ménager.
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