Bonapartist official who replaced Carlier as Paris prefect of police and helped lead the coup of 2 December 1851
Born in Bar-sur-Aube in 1818, he studied law in Paris. A sub-prefect from 1845, he left office after the February Revolution, attached himself to the Bonapartists and won Louis Napoleon's confidence. As prefect of the Allier and the Haute-Garonne he was noted for his lack of scruples: told by a magistrate that there was no evidence, he replied that evidence would be created. On 27 October 1851 he replaced Carlier as prefect of police in Paris and, with Morny and Saint-Arnaud, led the coup of 2 December, arresting opponents that night. Minister of the new Police Ministry from 1852, he treated opponents and the press mercilessly until the ministry was abolished in 1853. He was then a senator, ambassador in Naples and prefect of the Bouches-du-Rhône.
Activities and affiliations
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1845–1866
Government and administration
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1851–1853
France state institutionsPrefect of police and Minister of PoliceMain
Security, intelligence and policing -
1853–1860
Diplomacy and international organization
Career Timeline
- 1845–1848Sub-prefect of Uzès and Beaune
- 1849–1851Prefect of the Allier and the Haute-Garonne
- 1851–1852Prefect of police in Paris
- 1852–1853Minister of Police
- 1853Senator; ambassador in Naples
- 1860–1866Prefect of the Bouches-du-Rhône