Jacques Philippe came from the House of Choiseul, a noble family dating back to the 12th century and originating in Choiseul in
Haute-Marne. This famous family produced five marshals, one cardinal, two bishops and several statesmen. As a young man he served in the army of empress
Maria Theresa and after becoming captain in a dragoon regiment he was made a commander of the
Order of Saint Stephen, chamberlain to
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, colonel of a regiment of light cavalry, major general and lieutenant field marshal in 1759. In 1760 he resigned his imperial titles and joined the French army, in which he was made lieutenant general. He was put under the command of the
marshal de Broglie. He continued serving in Germany until the end of the
Seven Years' War and was giving the posts of commanding inspector of the French grenadier regiment (
régiment des grenadiers de France) and inspector general of infantry In 1770 he was made governor general of Lorraine, where he had a triumphal arch (
Porte Saint-Louis) built, and on 13 June 1783 he was made marshal of France. In 1788 he was made governor general of Alsace. He was made knight of the Orders of the King on 2 February 1786 and 'brevet' duke of Stainville the same year. He died at Strasbourg at 1789 aged 61. His daughter
Marie Thérèse de Choiseul married
Prince Joseph of Monaco. ==Bibliography==