Louis XV (1710-1774) was King of France of the Bourbon Dynasty. At five, he succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV, and ruled France between 1715 and 1774. Philippe II, Duke of Orleans, was the Regent and governed the country during his childhood. Louis XV was born on February 15, 1710, in Versailles, France, to Louis, Duke of Burgundy, and his wife, Marie Adelaïde of Savoy. At birth, he received the customary title Duke of Anjou. At seven years of age, Louis XV was separated from his governess, Madame de Ventadour, in February 1717, and placed in the care of the Duke of Villeroi. During this time the king was educated by Cardinal de Fleury. Lous XV had an open-minded personality. He was an avid reader, and he developed eclectic tastes. Later in life Louis XV advocated the creation of departments in physics (1769) and mechanics (1773) at the College de France.
At the beginning, the Louis XV had a good reputation as a king, as he was called "the Beloved One" (le Bien Aimé). Nevertheless, his ill-advised financial policies severely damaged the power of France, weakening the treasury and plunging the monarchy into discredit. The debauchery of his court, and the cession of New France (the French territories in America) at the conclusion of the Seven Years’ War, led Louis to become one of the most unpopular kings in the history of France, after losing all of the American colonies and their imported resources. The only achievement of Louis XV was winning the Battle of Fontenoy during the War of the Austrian Succession. He was succeeded by his grandson Louis XVI.
