Louis-Gabriel, Count de, a diplomatist and historian, was born of an old family in Normandy, March 2, 1732. At an early age he entered into the order of Malta; and became acquainted with the Chevalier de Folard, author of the Commentaries on Polybius, who received him into his house and superintended his education. Buat, through Folard's influence, was successively minister for France at Ratishon and Dresden; but becoming disgusted with this career, he retired from public life in 1776. He died at Nancay, in Berry, Sept. 18, 1787.

Buat was a man of some talents and considerable literary attainments, but his want of knowledge of the world seems to have in a great measure disqualified him for public employment. He wrote with great facility; but his style is very unequal. He was the author of several works on politics and history, of which the best are his Tableau du Gouvernement actuel de l'Empire d'Allemagne, translated from the German of Schmauss, with notes historical and critical, Paris, 1755, 12mo. Les Origines, ou l'Ancien Gouvernement de la France, de l'Italie, et de l'Allemagne, Hague, 1757, 4 vols. 12mo. Histoire Ancienne des Peuples de l'Europe, Paris, 1772, 12 vols. 12mo. Besides other works, he contributed various articles to the journals of his time, on history, literature, and political economy; in particular, some excellent observations on the character of Xenophon, inserted in vol. iv. of the Variétés Littéraires. (See Bibliographie Universelle.)