Francois Bassompierre, baron de, a French courtier, born in Lorraine, April 12, 1579, died Oct. 12, 1646. Henry IV. appointed him member of the council and commandant of a regiment, and under Louis XIII. he was made marshal and envoy to Spain, Switzerland, and Great Britain. He took part in the siege of La Rochelle, and served against the Huguenots in other places. He became obnoxious to Richelieu, who sent him to the Bastile (1631), where he was detained 11 years till the cardinal's death. While in prison he wrote Memoires du marechal de Bassompierre depuis 1598 jusqu'a son entree d la Bastille en 1631 (Cologne, 1665). • Previous to his arrest he was reported to have consigned to the flames more than 6,000 love letters. One woman, who had borne him a son, spent eight years in lawsuits to compel him to marry her; but he was already secretly married to the princess of Conti, Louise de Lorraine, who died of grief when she heard of his death. He was as fascinating and accomplished as he was reckless and unprincipled.