3-065-702 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The late M. Michelet, French historian, 1874. Engraving from a photograph by Reutlinger, of a '...learned and popular French writer...Jules Michelet was born at Paris in 1798. He early distinguished himself as a student of history, and was, in 1821, appointed to a chair in the College Sainte Barbe, where he taught the ancient languages and philosophy until 1826. Shortly after the Revolution of 1830 he was appointed chief of the historical section of the archives of the realm; and M. Guizot, unable on account of his political duties to continue his lectures on history in the Faculty of Literature in Paris, named Michelet as his substitute. In 1838 he succeeded M. Dunon in the chair of history in the College de France, and was elected member of the Institute. M. Michelet regarded history as "philosophy teaching by example." His first work, "Tableaux Synchroniques de l'Histoire Moderne," appeared in 1826; his "Histoire de France," in 1833-63; and his "Histoire de la Revolution Francaise, in 1847-53. He was a great opponent of the Jesuits, against whom he has written "Des Jesuites," published in 1843...The Government of Napoleon III. in March, 1851, interdicted his lectures, and he from that time retired into private life'. From "Illustrated London News", 1874.