Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs
Name from to
Édouard Drouyn de Lhuys 28 July 1852 7 May 1855
Alexandre Colonna , comte Walewski 7 May 1855 4 January 1860
Jules Baroche 4 January 1860 24 January 1860
Édouard Thouvenel 24 January 1860 15 October 1862
Édouard Drouyn de Lhuys 15 October 1862 1 September 1866
Charles , marquis de La Valette 1 September 1866 2 October 1866
Lionel de Moustier 2 October 1866 17 December 1868
Charles , marquis de La Valette 17 December 1868 17 July 1869
Henri , prince de La Tour d'Auvergne 17 July 1869 2 January 1870
Napoléon , comte Daru 2 January 1870 14 April 1870
Émile Ollivier 14 April 1870 15 May 1870
Agenor , duc de Gramont 15 May 1870 10 August 1870
Henri , prince de La Tour d'Auvergne 10 August 1870 4 September 1870
Minister of Foreign Affairs ( 1791–1799 ) -- Second Empire
The Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs () is the ministry in the government of France that handles France's foreign relations. Since 1855, its headquarters has been located on the Quai d'Orsay, 37 (close to the National Assembly of France). Quai d'Orsay is often used as a metonym for the ministry. Its cabinet minister, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs () is responsible for the foreign relations of France. The current minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, was appointed in May 2017. In 1547, secretaries to the King became specialized, writing correspondence to foreign governments, and negotiating peace treaties. The four French secretaries of state where foreign relations were divided by region, in 1589, became centralized with one becoming first secretary responsible for international relations. The Ancien Régime position of Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs became Foreign Minister around 1723, and was renamed Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1791 after the French Revolution. All ministerial positions were abolished in 1794 by the National Convention and re-established with the Directory. For a brief period in the 1980s, the office was retitled Minister for External Relations. As of 17 May 2017, the ministry is designated the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs and led by Jean-Yves Le Drian.