Jean-Antoine de Mesmes (premier président)

Jean-Antoine de Mesmes, comte d'Avaux (1661–1723) was a premier president of the Parlement of Paris and member of the Académie française.

As premier president he presided at the rescinding of the will of Louis XIV and in 1720 at the remonstrance against the regent, Philippe of Orléans, for allowing Law's disastrous financial scheme and appointing Guillaume Dubois as archbishop of Cambrai.

[3] In 1712, d'Avaux was appointed Premier President of the Parlement of Paris[4] when his predecessor Pelletier resigned.

According to custom Philippe of Orléans, the closest relative, would govern France as regent.

However, Louis XIV made a will in which he appointed a regency council dominated by his favourite but illegitimate son Louis-Auguste, Duke of Maine.

Jean-Antoine de Mesmes used this right later to admonish the regent in 1720 for the Law affair[citation needed] and for the appointment of Guillaume Dubois as Archbishop of Cambrai.

[12] On 22 September 1703 Jean-Antoine de Mesmes became Provost and Master of Ceremonies of the Order of the Holy Spirit.

Jean-Antoine de Mesmes is therefore often mentioned in the memoirs of Saint-Simon where he is distinguished from his homonyms by his title of premier president.

Portrait by Hyacinthe Rigaud engraved by Pierre Drevet . Note his attire as président à mortier: robe and striped ermine epitoge .
The text reads: Monsieur le premier président de Mesmes. He is shown dressed as président à mortier . He wears the cross of the Order of the Holy Spirit on his breast on the cordon bleu . The disk-like object on the table under his right hand is the mortier , a mortarboard-like hat.