Jean-Baptiste Nompère de Champagny, duc de Cadore

Elected député by the noblesse of Forez to the Estates-General in 1789, he went over to the Third Estate on the 21st of June and collaborated in the work of the National Constituent Assembly, especially occupying himself with the reorganization of the navy.

[1] A political career seems to have attracted him little; he remained in private life from 1791 to 1799, when Napoleon named him member of the council of state.

In addition to the ordinary charges of his office, he had to direct the recruitment of the army, organize the Exposition des produits de l'industrie française of 1806, and to complete the public works undertaken in Paris and throughout France.

He directed the annexation of the Papal States in April 1808, worked to secure the abdication of Charles IV of Spain in May 1808, negotiated the Peace of Vienna (1809) and the marriage of Napoleon.

[citation needed] In April 1811 a quarrel with the Emperor led to his retirement, and he obtained the sinecure office of intendant general of the crown.