Joseph Giry de Saint Cyr, also known as Odet-Joseph de Vaux de Giry (14 February 1699, Lyon – 13 January 1761, Versailles) was a French clergyman. His name remains associated with the "cacouacs", a mocking term for the Encyclopédistes.
Doctor of theology, Abbé Joseph de Giry de Saint Cyr was sub-preceptor of the Dauphin of France, Councilor of State and member of the French Academy elected in 1741 and finally commendatory of the Abbey of Saint-Martin de Troarn from 1749 when he died.[1]
The “Cacouacs Affair” broke out in October 1757 when an anonymous article appeared in the Mercure de France titled Useful Opinion or First Memoir on the Cacouacs . The term "cacouac", which means "the bad ones", was invented to ridicule the Encyclopedists. Shortly after, Jacob-Nicolas Moreau published a pamphlet titled New memoir on the Cacouacs, which Joseph Giry in turn followed with a Catechism and decisions of cases of conscience for the use of cacouacs with a speech by the patriarch of the cacouacs, for the reception of a new disciple . Published in Paris, this one bears as place of publication “Cacopolis”.