Simon Nikolaus Euseb Reichsgraf von Montjoye-Hirsingen (1693–1775) was the Prince-Bishop of Basel from 1762 to 1775.[1]
Biography
Simon Nikolaus Euseb von Montjoye-Hirsingen was born in Hirsingen, Alsace, on 22 September 1693, the son of Franz Ignaz von Montjoye-Hirsingen, a brigadier in the French Army.[2] The family also sometimes used Froburg as its family name.[2]
He was educated at the Jesuit gymnasium in Porrentruy, then spent 1712 studying in Strasbourg. From 1713 to 1717, he studied at the Collegium Germanicum in Rome.[2]
He was ordained as a priest on 22 December 1731.[3] He spent 1741-62 as provost of Enschingen.[2]
On 26 October 1762 the cathedral chapter of Basel Münster elected him to be the new Prince-Bishop of Basel, with Pope Clement XIII confirming his appointment on 21 March 1763.[3] He was consecrated as a bishop by Cardinal de Choiseul on 10 July 1763.[3]
Bishop von Montjoye-Hirsingen was a supporter of the Physiocrats.[2] In 1769, he introduced poor relief in the prince-bishopric.[2]
He became sick in 1771, which led to premature electioneering in the prince-bishopric.[2] He died in Porrentruy on 5 April 1775.[3]