The New Student's Reference Work/Fouche, Joseph

Fouche (fōō’shâ’), Joseph (Duke of Otranto), minister of police under Napoleon, was born at Nantes, France, on May 29, 1760. He was elected to the national convention in 1792 and expelled in 1794. In 1799 he was appointed minister of police, and held the office until 1815. He was a man of one ambition — his own political success. He was indispensable to Napoleon, yet was dismissed by him twice, but reinstated each time. He was given office by Louis XVIII, but dismissed by him in September, 1815. He was then appointed ambassador to Dresden, and, being included among those who were banished, as having been concerned in the execution of Louis XVI, he henceforth led an exile's life and died at Trieste on Dec. 25, 1820.