Boissy d'Anglas: Aspects of continuity during the period of the French Revolution

The focus of this dissertation is the political ideology of Francois Antoine Boissy d'Anglas, a moderate, revolutionary legislator who served France for 27 years between 1789 and 1819. This research uses a biographical format to analyze the political platform which enabled Boissy to survive during eight successive regimes, his actions during periods of crisis and the important contribution of moderates during the era of the French Revolution.;Boissy d'Anglas, a member of the educated, upper third estate in 1788, became a committed political moderate during the Revolution. Over the years he was labelled patriot, clichyen, royalist, and liberal; he was both a jacobin and robespierriste in 1793; later, his opinions were closer to the royalist opponents of the Directors than to their republican supporters. Boissy accepted Bonaparte after the ineffectiveness of the Directory in order to maintain the achievements of the Revolution. He also accepted the Bourbons in 1815 and continued to press for liberal ideals.;Boissy d'Anglas was a public servant for so many years because he was committed to ideals. Yet he also acted when required, demonstrating his willingness to risk his life and reputation for the ideas he espoused. His life provides an interesting and valuable window into the treacherous path that had to be walked in order to remain influential at the national level in France during the years from 1789 to 1819.;This study of the political life of Boissy d'Anglas sheds new light on the ideas and role of moderates in the French Revolution. It demonstrates the importance of the Plain as an arbiter between the more radical groups in the government and adds to the body of work which has highlighted the role of literature and writers before and during the Revolution. Boissy's example supports the theory that the men of 1789 accepted the ideas of the philosophes. Boissy's writing clearly shows a debt to Rousseau. He was a rich man of letters under the Old Regime, yet Boissy developed a theory of politics which made it possible for him to weather the revolutionary storm and retain positions of influence in each of the eight successive regimes between 1789 and 1819.