Louis Napoleon's follower from the exile years who plotted the coup and the restored Empire
Born Jean-Gilbert Victor Fialin in the Loire in 1808, he was a cavalry NCO until his regiment's part in the July Revolution of 1830 got him dismissed. He turned journalist, styled himself vicomte de Persigny and became a Bonapartist. In 1835 he met the exiled Louis Napoleon and became his aide, took part in the attempted coups at Strasbourg in 1836 and Boulogne in 1840, and was sentenced to twenty years' detention. Freed in 1848, he ran Louis Napoleon's presidential campaign and was elected for the Nord in 1849. On 2 December 1851 he led troops to seize the Palais Bourbon. He succeeded Morny as minister of the interior in 1852, was ambassador in London, and held the interior ministry again from 1860 to 1863. Napoleon III said of him: "There is only one Bonapartist, Persigny, and he is mad!"
Also known as: Jean-Gilbert Victor Fialin · Duke of Persigny · Duc de Persigny
Activities and affiliations
-
1826–1830
French monarchy state institutions
Military command -
1849–1851
Legislature and state representation
-
1852–1863
France state institutionsMinister of the InteriorMain
Government and administration -
1855–1860
Diplomacy and international organization
Career Timeline
- 1835Aide to Louis Napoleon
- 1836Attempted coup at Strasbourg
- 1840Attempted coup at Boulogne; twenty years' detention
- 1848Ran Louis Napoleon's presidential campaign
- 1849–1851Deputy for the Nord
- 1852–1854Minister of the Interior
- 1855–1860Ambassador in London
- 1860–1863Minister of the Interior