Édouard Thouvenel

Édouard Antoine de Thouvenel (; 11 November 1818, Verdun, Meuse – 18 October 1866) was ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1855 to 1860, and French Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1860 to 1862.

Career After studying law and travelling throughout Europe, in 1840 Thouvenel published an account of his travels which first appeared in the Revue des Deux Mondes (la Hongrie et la Valachie. Souvenirs de voyages et notices historiques). Thouvenel was appointed attaché to the French embassy in Brussels in 1844, followed by Athens in 1845. He became Chargé d'affaires in Athens in 1848 and afterwards became Minister Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Bavaria. In July 1850 he was made a Commandeur of the Legion of Honour, followed by Grand Officier (January 10 1854), and finally Grand Cross (14 January 1860). He was French plenipotentiary in the negotiations for a commercial treaty between France and Belgium, concluded on 1st May 1861. Thouvenel also arranged for a French intervention in Syria after a massacre of Christians took place there in 1860.

During the American Civil War, Thouvenel worked to impede Napoleon III's recognition of the Confederate States of America. He feared that such a move would antagonize the United States and cause a retaliatory US invasion of Mexico, where the French were conducting an expedition to install a monarchy.

His resignation in October 1862 was a result of clashes with the Emperor over the Roman Question. Thouvenel negotiated an agreement with the newly-formed Kingdom of Italy to withdraw French troops from Rome in exchange for a guarantee from the new Kingdom to respect the Pope's temporal hold of the city. This agreement had particularly displeased the Empress Eugénie.

Post-diplomacy After resigning as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thouvenel became president of the Compagnie des chemins de fer de l'Est. He was offered, but refused, the presidency of the Corps législatif after the death of the Duke of Morny left it vacant. In 1865 he was named "grand référendaire" of the Senate.