Édouard Antoine de Thouvenel (French pronunciation: [edwaʁ də tuvnɛl]; 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.
[4] As Minister of Foreign Affairs during the French Second Empire, Thouvenel negotiated key treaties on behalf of France.
[7] 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.
He was offered, but refused, the presidency of the Corps législatif after the death of the Duke of Morny left it vacant.