Comte de Mirabeau (1749-1791), French politician, born Honore Gabriel Riqueti. Mirabeau's early life included romantic scandals, extravagant tastes, quarrels with his father, and periods of exile and imprisonment. During this time, his writings included political treatises and erotic love letters. After the French Revolution in 1789, he was one of the leading moderate voices on the National Assembly. His secret negotiations with the King ultimately failed and he died soon after, weakened by the excesses of his youth. His legacy included amalgamating the French royal academies in what became the Institute of France, and establishing the French lycee educational system. Painting by Jean Guerin.