Pierre Jean Marie Sotin de la Coindière (Nantes, 1764 - La Chevrolière, 1810) was Minister of Police under the Directory.
Biography.
Lord of Coindière in Héric, he was the son of Pierre Sotin, Lord of Coindière, lawyer in the parliament of Brittany and trade advisor, seneschal of the commandery of Saint-Jean and his wife Sainte-Catherine de Nantes, and of Marie-Anne Lafiton.
He himself was a lawyer in the Parlement of Rennes at the beginning of the French Revolution and became president of the Administration of Loire-Inférieure. He narrowly escaped the drownings at Nantes, and came to Paris where, on the recommendation of Philippe-Antoine Merlin de Douai, he was appointed on 8 Thermidor, year V (July 26, 1797) Minister of Police. Devoted to Paul Barras, he was one of the authors of the Coup of 18 Fructidor Year V (September 4, 1797). He resigned on 25 Pluviôse, year VI (February 12, 1798) and was appointed first ambassador to Genoa and then consul in New York. He was a theophilanthropist.