Roquelaure, Jean Armand De Bessuejouls, Count Of;

a French prelate, was born at Roquelaure in 1721. Of a noble family, he entered the Church when quite young, was doctor of theology at the age of twenty-six, and vicar-general of Arras when, in 1754, he received the bishopric of Senlis. In 1764 he was first almoner of the king, in 1767 councilor of state, in 1768 abbe of St. Germer, and in 1771 member of the French Academy. He was one of the few bishops who remained in France after the civil oath was required, but did not yield to the constitution of 1790. During the Reign of Terror he retired to Arras. He resigned his see of Senlis, but was in 1802 made archbishop of Malines. In 1808 he received a canonry in St. Denis, and spent the remainder of his life in Paris. He died of old age, April 23, 1818. His writings are, Oraison Funebre de la Reine d'Espagne (Paris, 1761): — Oraison Funebre de Louis XV (ibid. 1774): — Mandements, and Lettres to the clergy.