Jean Frederic Plielypeaox Maurepas, count, a French statesman, born July 9, 1701, died Nov. 21, 1781. He was grandson of the chancellor Pontchartrain, and at the age of 14 succeeded his father as secretary of state, the administration of the office being intrusted to the marquis de La Yrilliere till 1725, when lie became the acting minister. He discharged the duties of this office till 1749, embellished the capital, sent La Condamine, Bouguer, and others to measure an arc of the meridian in Peru, near the equator, and Maupertuis, Olairaut, and others to measure an arc in Lapland. He also promoted the expeditions of Fourmont to Greece and the Orient, and of Jussieu to Peru. An epigram which he wrote upon Mme. de Pompadour caused his banishment from court for 25 years. He was recalled by Louis XVI., again became president of the council of state, restored the exiled parliaments, called Turgot and Necker successively into the ministry, but by his fickle and frivolous administration hastened the catastrophe of the French revolution.

The Mi-moires du comte de Maurepas was published by the abbe Soulavie (4 vols., Paris. 1792).