Lamoignon, Guillaume de

(1617-1677)

   political figure

   Born in Paris, where he was the first president of the Parlement of Paris, Guillaume de Lamoignon refused to preside over the trial of nicolas fouquet and spoke out in favor of legislative and judicial procedural and penal reform (the Lamoignon Laws of arrest were introduced in 1702). He envisioned a unification of the laws of the kingdom and institution of a more humane judicial system, with better rights guaranteed for the accused. Lamoignon also protected various writers, such as nicolas boileau. His grandson, Guillaume de Lamoignon (1683-1772), was chancellor under King louis XV and was the father of chrétien Guillaume de lamoignon de malesherbes and the uncle of Chrétien François de Lamoignon (1735-89), the keeper of the seals who, in 1787, tried to reduce the prerogatives of the parlements, and as a result, was recalled in 1788.