Born in 1754 at Aspres, in Dauphiné; died in Paris, 1830.
He was the thirteenth child of noble born but poor parents.
One of his uncles, a priest, adopted him, and he was intended for
the Church, and educated at an Oratorian College. He refused to take
orders, and became a lay professor in the University of Tours.
When the Duke de Choiseul visited this College, young Hauterive
composed and delivered the discourse of welcome. The great nobleman
was so well satisfied that he invited the youthful professor to
Chanteloup. Here he found the Count de Choiseul de Gauffier, who was
about to depart as Ambassador to Constantinople. Hauterive was offered
and accepted the post of private secretary to this Minister, whom he
accompanied to the Levant in 1784.
When he reached Constantinople he was appointed French secretary to the
Hospodar of Moldavia, an important and highly paid situation.
Four years later he returned to Paris and married a rich and handsome
widow. When the Revolution broke out he refused to emigrate, and
remained in France a faithful servant to the house of Choiseul. He was
in consequence totally ruined.
In 1792 he was given the French Consulship at New York, but he soon
lost this appointment on account of his anti-Republican views. He
was at last reduced to great poverty, and worked for a time as a day
labourer. While in America he was joined by Talleyrand, who, however,
soon returned to France. In 1798 Hauterive ventured back to Paris, and
obtained a clerkship at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After the Revolution of the 18th Brumaire (November 1799) Bonaparte,
who required an intelligent individual capable of composing a general
manifesto to the nations of Europe, was recommended by Talleyrand to
employ Hauterive.
In six weeks the work appeared under the title of “The Condition of
France at the End of the Year VIII.” Napoleon was greatly pleased,
and Hauterive became one of his most trusted councillors. He was the
principal factor in the diplomatic work of France during the Consulate.
The most important of his achievements was the Concordat. His ancient
theological studies among the Oratorians fitted him well for his task,
and, as he had never taken holy orders, he was not, like Talleyrand,
under the stigma of being a renegade priest. All through the Empire
Hauterive continued to act as diplomatic adviser and agent for Napoleon
all over Europe; he was also the guardian of the archives of France. In
1809 he received the title of Count of the Empire.
In 1814 he retired into private life. During “the Hundred Days” he
refused to join the Ministry, and only solicited the restitution of his
position as “Director and Guardian of the Archives of France.”
When the Bourbons returned, Hauterive was restored in this position by
the Duke of Richelieu, the Prime Minister.
Hauterive exercised great influence during the reign of Louis XVIII.,
who had an immense respect for him. His literary work during the
fifteen years of the Restoration was colossal. He died in 1830, aged
seventy-six.