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Under the ancien régime, the French minister responsible for the judiciary was the Chancellor of France. The Chancellor was responsible for seeing that royal decrees were registered by the various Parlements of the realm. However, as the Chancellor was appointed for life, and might fall from favor, or be too ill to carry out his duties, at times the duties were carried out by a deputy, the Keeper of the Seals. The last Chancellor died in 1790, by which time the French Revolution was well underway, and was not replaced. Instead, in 1791, the Keeper of the Seals was given the additional title of Minister of Justice.
| Chancellor | Began | Ended |
| Louis Phélypeaux, comte de Pontchartrain | 5 September 1699 | 1 July 1714 |
| Daniel Voysin de La Noiraye | 2 July 1714 | 2 February 1717 |
| Henri François d'Aguesseau | 3 February 1717 | 27 October 1750Events March 2 Small earthquake in London April 4 Small earthquake in Warrington, England August 23 Small earthquake in Spalding, England September 30 Small earthquake in Northampton, England November 16 Westminster Bridge officially opened Jonas Hanway i |
| Guillaume de Lamoignon de Blancmesnil | 10 December 1750Events March 2 Small earthquake in London April 4 Small earthquake in Warrington, England August 23 Small earthquake in Spalding, England September 30 Small earthquake in Northampton, England November 16 Westminster Bridge officially opened Jonas Hanway i | 14 September 1768Events January 9 Philip Astley stages the first modern circus ( London) May 10 John Wilkes is imprisoned for writing an article for the North Briton severely criticizing King George III. This action provokes rioting in London Secretary of State for coloni |
| René Nicolas de Maupeou | 16 September 1768 | 1 July 1790 |