Jean Baptiste De Boyer Argeens, marquis d', a French writer, born in Aix, June 24, 1704, died in Toulon, June 11, 1771. He entered the army, but in consequence of an escapade with an actress his relatives procured his appointment as secretary of legation to the French embassy at Constantinople. On his return from Turkey he again.joined the army; but during the siege of Kehl he was wounded, and soon after a fall from his horse disabled him for military service. As his father had disinherited him, he took to literature to support himself; and availing himself of the liberty of the press in Holland, he published there his Lettres juives, Lettres chiniscs, and Lettres cabalistiques, each in several volumes. These attracted the attention of the crown prince of Prussia, the future Frederick the Great, who wished him to come to Berlin; but D'Argens would not go, because, as he wrote in apology, he was afraid that his tall figure would tempt King Frederick William to enroll him in his army. However, after the accession of Frederick the marquis went to Potsdam, was appointed director of fine arts in the academy of Berlin, and was on the best of terms with the king until he married an actress without asking the royal consent. He then returned to France, where he remained till his death.

His most important work is his Histoire de l'esprit humain.