Frédéric Alfred Pierre, comte de Falloux
Encyclopedia
Frédéric-Alfred-Pierre, comte de Falloux (7 May 1811 – 16 January 1886) was a French politician
and author, famous for having given his name to two laws on education
, favorizing private Catholic teaching.
, Maine-et-Loire
. His father had been ennobled by King Charles X of France
, and Falloux began his career as a Legitimist and clerical journalist under the influence of Madame Swetchine
. In 1846 he entered the legislature as deputy for the Maine-et-Loire
, and with many other Catholics he gave real or pretended support to the revolution of 1848. Louis Napoleon made him minister of education in 1849, but having fell sick in September 1849, he was replaced in October.
He had nevertheless secured the passage of the Loi Falloux (15 March 1850) for the organization of primary and secondary education. This law provided that the clergy and members of ecclesiastical orders, male and female, might exercise the profession of teaching without producing any further qualification. This exemption was extended even to priests who taught in secondary schools, where a university degree was exacted from lay teachers. The primary schools were put under the management of the curés. Falloux was elected to the Académie française
in 1856.
His failure to secure re-election to the legislature in 1866, 1869, 1870 and 1871 was due to the opposition of the stricter Legitimists, who viewed with suspicion his attempts to reconcile the Orléans
princes with Henri, comte de Chambord
. In spite of his failure to enter the National Assembly his influence was great, and was increased by his personal friendship with Adolphe Thiers
. Nevertheless, in 1872 he offended both sections of the monarchical party at a conference arranged in the hope of effecting a fusion between the partisans of the comte de Chambord and of the Orléans princes, divided on the vexed question of the flag. He suggested that the comte de Chambord might recede from his position with dignity at the desire of the National Assembly, and not content with this encroachment on royalist principles, he insinuated the possibility of a transitional stage with the duc d'Aumale as president of the republic. His disgrace was so complete that he was excommunicated by the Bishop of Angers in 1876.
Of his numerous works the best known are his Histoire de Louis XVI (1840); Histoire de Saint Pie V (1845); De la contre-révolution (1876); and the posthumous Mémoires d'un royaliste (2 volumes, 1888).
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and author, famous for having given his name to two laws on education
Falloux Laws
The Falloux Laws were voted during the French Second Republic and promulgated on 15 March 1850 and in 1851, following the presidential election of Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte in December 1848 and the May 1849 legislative elections that gave a majority to the conservative Parti de l'Ordre. Named for...
, favorizing private Catholic teaching.
Life
He was born at AngersAngers
Angers is the main city in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France about south-west of Paris. Angers is located in the French region known by its pre-revolutionary, provincial name, Anjou, and its inhabitants are called Angevins....
, Maine-et-Loire
Maine-et-Loire
Maine-et-Loire is a department in west-central France, in the Pays de la Loire region.- History :Maine-et-Loire is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. Originally it was called Mayenne-et-Loire, but its name was changed to Maine-et-Loire in 1791....
. His father had been ennobled by King Charles X of France
Charles X of France
Charles X was known for most of his life as the Comte d'Artois before he reigned as King of France and of Navarre from 16 September 1824 until 2 August 1830. A younger brother to Kings Louis XVI and Louis XVIII, he supported the latter in exile and eventually succeeded him...
, and Falloux began his career as a Legitimist and clerical journalist under the influence of Madame Swetchine
Madame Swetchine
Anne Sophie Swetchine , known as Madame Swetchine, was a Russian mystic, born in Moscow, and famous for her salon in Paris.- Biography :...
. In 1846 he entered the legislature as deputy for the Maine-et-Loire
Maine-et-Loire
Maine-et-Loire is a department in west-central France, in the Pays de la Loire region.- History :Maine-et-Loire is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. Originally it was called Mayenne-et-Loire, but its name was changed to Maine-et-Loire in 1791....
, and with many other Catholics he gave real or pretended support to the revolution of 1848. Louis Napoleon made him minister of education in 1849, but having fell sick in September 1849, he was replaced in October.
He had nevertheless secured the passage of the Loi Falloux (15 March 1850) for the organization of primary and secondary education. This law provided that the clergy and members of ecclesiastical orders, male and female, might exercise the profession of teaching without producing any further qualification. This exemption was extended even to priests who taught in secondary schools, where a university degree was exacted from lay teachers. The primary schools were put under the management of the curés. Falloux was elected to the Académie française
Académie française
L'Académie française , also called the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution,...
in 1856.
His failure to secure re-election to the legislature in 1866, 1869, 1870 and 1871 was due to the opposition of the stricter Legitimists, who viewed with suspicion his attempts to reconcile the Orléans
House of Orleans
Orléans is the name used by several branches of the Royal House of France, all descended in the legitimate male line from the dynasty's founder, Hugh Capet. It became a tradition during France's ancien régime for the duchy of Orléans to be granted as an appanage to a younger son of the king...
princes with Henri, comte de Chambord
Henri, comte de Chambord
Henri, comte de Chambord was disputedly King of France from 2 to 9 August 1830 as Henry V, although he was never officially proclaimed as such...
. In spite of his failure to enter the National Assembly his influence was great, and was increased by his personal friendship with Adolphe Thiers
Adolphe Thiers
Marie Joseph Louis Adolphe Thiers was a French politician and historian. was a prime minister under King Louis-Philippe of France. Following the overthrow of the Second Empire he again came to prominence as the French leader who suppressed the revolutionary Paris Commune of 1871...
. Nevertheless, in 1872 he offended both sections of the monarchical party at a conference arranged in the hope of effecting a fusion between the partisans of the comte de Chambord and of the Orléans princes, divided on the vexed question of the flag. He suggested that the comte de Chambord might recede from his position with dignity at the desire of the National Assembly, and not content with this encroachment on royalist principles, he insinuated the possibility of a transitional stage with the duc d'Aumale as president of the republic. His disgrace was so complete that he was excommunicated by the Bishop of Angers in 1876.
Of his numerous works the best known are his Histoire de Louis XVI (1840); Histoire de Saint Pie V (1845); De la contre-révolution (1876); and the posthumous Mémoires d'un royaliste (2 volumes, 1888).