Guillaume-Chrétien de Lamoignon de Malesherbes

Guillaume-Chrétien de Lamoignon de Malesherbes was born in 1721 in Paris to a famous legal family, he was educated in the family profession.  He rose rapidly as did his father who was made Chancellor of the Parlement of Paris.  He gave his son the duty of controlling the press which saw the younger Malesherbes meeting with the likes of Diderot.  However after a disagreement with Louis XV he retired to the country only to be brought back into power by Louis XVI on his coronation.  He once again retired to a life of leisure and travel in 1776.  With increasing problems throughout France Louis requested that he return to court in 1787.  His time back in office was short as he once again retired into what he know doubt hoped would be a peaceful old age.

In December 1792 he emerged from retirement to defend the King in the Convention at his trial.  His actions were not forgotten and in December 1793 he was arrested along with his daughter, his son in law and his grandchildren and on the 23rd April 1794 he was executed his families death followed shortly.