François Denis Tronchet

Who was François Denis Tronchet?

François Denis Tronchet was a French jurist.

Born in Paris, he became an avocat at the Parlement de Paris, and gained a great reputation in a consultative capacity.

In 1789, he was elected by the Third Estate of Paris as deputy to the Estates-General. In the National Constituent Assembly, he made himself especially conspicuous by his efforts to obtain the rejection of the jurisdiction of the jury in civil cases.

Tronchet had an interesting relationship with Louis XVI. He was selected by the National Assembly to interview the chastened king in the aftermath of the Flight to Varennes. Eighteen months later, Tronchet was chosen by King Louis XVI as his defense counsel at his trial, and performed this difficult and dangerous task with ability and courage.

During the period of the Directory, he was a deputy at the Council of the Ancients, where he unsuccessfully opposed the resolution that judges be nominated by the executive directory. Under the Consulate he was the president of the tribunal of cassation, and collaborated in preparing the final scheme for the civil code.