Memoir of the Life of Henry-Francis D'Aguesseau, Chancellor of France; and of His Ordonnances for Consolidating and Amending Certain Portions of the ... Literary Account of the Roman and Canon Law.

Butler, Charles.Memoir of the Life of Henry-Francis D'Aguesseau, Chancellor of France; and of His Ordonnances for Consolidating and Amending Certain Portions of the French Law; and An Historical and Literary Account of the Roman and Canon Law.London: J. Murray: 1830. 207 pp. Reprinted 2008 by The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd. ISBN-13: 978-1-58477-746-5. ISBN-10: 1-58477-746-X. Cloth. $85.* This biography of the pioneering French codifier Henry-Francis D'Aguesseau, the first in English, was written at a time when the English and American legal communities were keenly interested in codification. Indeed, Butler [1750-1832] emphasizes this aspect of his subject's career. D'Aguesseau [1668-1751], a pupil of Jean Domat, served three terms as chancellor of France. He was renowned for his forensic eloquence and was a prolific legal writer. His attempt to codify French law was unsuccessful. This project led to several important reforms, however, especially in such areas as donations, testaments, succession and procedure. A prolific writer on legal and ecclesiastical subjects, Butler is best known for his completion of Hargrave's edition of Coke's Institutes, which are available as Lawbook Exchange Reprints.