Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes

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Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes (French: [vɛʁʒɛn]; 29 December 1719 – 13 February 1787) was a French statesman and diplomat. He served as Foreign Minister from 1774 to 1787 during the reign of Louis XVI, notably during the American War of Independence. Vergennes rose through the ranks of the diplomatic service during postings in Portugal and Germany before receiving the important post of Envoy to the Ottoman Empire in 1755. While there he oversaw complex negotiations that resulted from the Diplomatic Revolution before being recalled in 1768. After assisting a pro-French faction to take power in Sweden, he returned home and was promoted to foreign minister. Vergennes hoped that by giving French aid to the American revolutionaries he would be able to weaken British dominance of the international stage in the wake of Britain's victory over France in the Seven Years' War. Alliance with the revolutionaries produced mixed results for France as, despite helping to secure American independence...

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