Talleyrand (De Perigord) Alexandre Angelique

Talleyrand (De Perigord) Alexandre Angelique

Talleyrand (De Perigord) Alexandre Angelique,

a noted French prelate, was born in Paris,. Oct. 16, 1736, and after a course of education at the College de la Fleche, the Seminary of St. Sulpice, and under the direction of abb Bourlier, became one of the almoners of the king, later vicar-general of Verdun, and (in 1762) abbot of Gard (diocese of Amiens). Having been chosen coadjutor of the archbishop of Rheims, he was consecrated at Rome, Sept. 26, 1766, under the title of archbishop of Troyanople impartibus. He succeeded to the archbishopric of Rheims Oct. 27, 1777, and was very active in improving his diocese, as well as in public and ecclesiastical functions, sharing the varied fortunes of the Church and State during the stormy period of the French Revolution. After having been a refugee at Aix-la-Chapelle, Brussels, and other places, he was recalled in 1803, and on July 28 was made cardinal, and on Aug. 8 following bishop of Paris, where he died, Oct. 20, 1821. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. G neral, s.v.