Le Coz, Claude

Le Coz, Claude a French prelate, was born at Plounevez Parzay, Brittany, September 2, 1740. He pursued his studies at the College of Quimper, and was a professor there at the time of the Revolution. In 1791 he was elected constitutional bishop of the department of Ille-et-Vilaine, and the same year deputy at the legislative assembly. During the Reign of Terror he was imprisoned and sent to Mont Michel, where he remained fourteen months. Obtaining his liberty in 1795, he resumed his episcopal duties, and adhered to the encyclicals published by the synod of the constitutional bishops reunited at Paris. Le Coz presided over the national council of the same bishops. held-at the capitol from August 15, 1797, to November 12 of the same year. In 1799 he assembled a synod at Rennes, but the priests of his diocese did not all recognize his authority. Being called to the presidency of the council of 1801, he opposed the project of a French sacramentarian. At the time of the Concordat of the first consul with the pope, Le Coz resigned, and was appointed archbishop of Besanion. In 1804 he went to Paris to visit the pope, and after some difficulties signed an article of adhesion and submission to the briefs of the holy father. He died at Villevieux, near Lons le Saulnier, May 3, 1815, leaving a number of works, for mention of which see Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.