Beauvau, Rene Francois De

Beauvau, Rene Francois De, a French prelate, was born in 1664, at the Chateau du Rivau. After having completed his studies, and received the cap of doctor in the Sorbonne in 1694, he was appointed canon and grand-vicar of the Church of Sarlat, of which his uncle was bishop. Six years later he was himself made lishop of Bayonne. Here, by his ability, his zeal, his gentleness and charity, he won the affection and esteem of all in his diocese. He was convinced of their faithfulness by a circumstance which tested the sincerity of their sentiments. In 1707 Louis XIV called him to the bishopric of Tournay, which spread consternation throughout Bayonne, as the people were so reluctant to part with him. But all effort to retain him was in vain, for Louis would not change his plans, declaring it to be necessary that Tournay should have such a man as this one. Tournay was besieged and taken by prince Eugene, and M. de Beauvau rendered excellent service to the inhabitants. He afterwards retired to Paris, where Louis XIV, in recognition of his valuable services, defrayed his expenses with silver from the royal treasury. Tournay having been given to the emperor, M. de Beauvau resigned his bishopric, and became in 1713 archbishop of Toulouse, and in 1719 of Narbonne. He also had charge of the political government. As president of the states of Languedoc for twenty years, he there exhibited the same virtues as upon the different episcopal sees which he occupied. It is to his patronage that we are indebted for the Histoire du Languedoc, by the friars of St. Maur; also the Description Geographique, and the Histoire Naturelle, of the same province, by the Society of Montpellier. He died Aug. 4, 1739. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.