Ladvocat, Billiard Nicolas

Ladvocat, Billiard Nicolas a French prelate, was born at Paris in 1620. He entered the ministry, was received in the Sorbonne, December 24, 1652, and became canon of Notre Dame and vicar-general of the coadjutor of Paris, Albert de Conti, cardinal of Retz, whom he assisted for several years in his political intrigues, in the administration of his diocese, and whom he accompanied to Rome in 1675. In 1677 he obtained the episcopal see of Boulogne-sur-Mier. He governed his diocese wisely, where he also founded a seminary and some establishments of instruction and of charity. He died April 14, 1681, leaving Vindicice Partheniae (Paris, 1679), which maintains that the Virgin Mary was taken up into heaven bodily. He also composed the first rules which were observed in the Hotel Dieu de Paris. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.