French writer, academician, and censor of the theater.

Prominent figure in Parisian salon society. His pride often led him to refuse patronage, but he eventually obtained a pension of 2500 livres from d’Alembert, the Duc de Nivernais, and Madame de Maurepas, which allowed him to devote himself to literature. Elected to Académie française (1774). Censor of the theater (1774-90). Zealous monarchist; went into retirement during the French Revolution but later recovered much of his prestige. Permanent secretary of the language and literature section of the Académie française (1803).

Son of the secretary of the University of Besançon. Married N. Panckoucke, a well- known salonnière.