The New Student's Reference Work/Kaunitz, Wenzel Anton

Kaunitz (kou'nĭts), Wenzel Anton, PRINCE VON, an Austrian statesman and diplomat, was born at Vienna, Feb. 2, 1711. Kaunitz began his public career under Charles VI, and was afterward employed by Empress Maria Theresa on diplomatic missions to Rome, Florence and Turin. At the congress of Aix-la-Chapelle, in 1748, he earned the rank of minister of state by the diplomatic talents he displayed. As Austrian ambassador at the French court in 1750-52, he succeeded in changing the enmity which had existed between France and Austria for nearly a century into friendship and good-will. For this service he was appointed prime minister, and for more than 40 years had the principal direction of Austria's political affairs. He also was a liberal patron of the arts and sciences. He resigned all his offices and retired from public life when Francis II ascended the throne (1792). He died on June 27, 1794. See Lives by Hormayr and by Beer.