A deputy to the Legislative Assembly in 1791, elected by the département of Seine-et-Marne, he generally voted with the minority. As his views came to be considered too moderate by his colleagues, he resigned in 1792, and was soon after arrested on suspicion of being a reactionary. Madame de Staël obtained his release from Louis Pierre Manuel just before the September Massacres. He made his way to England, and joined the group who during 1792-93 took refuge at Juniper Hall in Surrey, supported by Madame de Stael, who later joined them.[1] He returned to France after the execution of KingLouis XVI.[2]
In 1803, Jaucourt entered the French Senate, and next year, upon the establishment of the First Empire, he became attached to the household of Joseph Bonaparte. He accompanied Joseph to the Kingdom of Naples, and was created a count of the Empire by Napoleon.
Restoration, July Monarchy, and later years
During the following years, Jaucourt distanced himself from the imperial cause, and, with the Bourbon Restoration he became Minister of State and a Peer of France. After the outcome of the Hundred Days (during which he stood by Louis XVIII), he was Naval Minister in July–September 1815, but held no further office. He devoted himself to the support of the Protestant interest in France,[2] and tried to reduce the effects of the White Terror.