Lebrun, Charles François, 1st Duc de Piacenza (1739-1824)

Lebrun, Charles François, 1st Duc de Piacenza

STATESMAN (FRANCE)

BORN 19 Mar 1739, Saint-Sauveur-Landelin, Manche (near Coutances) - DIED 16 Jun 1824, Saint-Mesme, Yvelines
GRAVE LOCATION Paris: Père Lachaise, Rue du Repos 16 (division 05, ligne 01, Y, 27)

Charles-François Lebrun studied philosophy at the Collège de Navarre. He started working as a lawyer in Paris in 1762. In 1766 he was appointed Censeur du Roi and in 1768 he became Inspector General of the Domains of the Crown. He was a follower of Montesquieu and he admired the British Constitution after he witnessed debated in the parliament in London. In 1774 he concentrated on literature and he translated several works. The cabinet of Jacques Necker consulted him frequently, but he held no official position.

After the outbreak of the French Revolution he stressed its importance in his book "La voix du Citoyen" (1789). He became a member of the National Convention where he was a proponent of liberalism. He was arrested in 1793 but freed after J.A. Crassous intervened. In June 1794 he was arrested again, this time on orders of the same Crassous. After his file was stolen by a relative his trial was delayed long enough to escape the guillotine.

He supported Napoleon Bonaparte's coup and became third consul afterwards. He helped Napoleon to reorganize the nation's finances and in reorganizing the administration of the départements. In 1804 he was appointed Arch-Treasurer of the French Empire. From 1805 to 1806 he was governor-general of Liguria that was annexed by France. He was against Napoleon's restoration of the noblesse in 1808 but he accepted the title of Duke of Piacenza.

From 1811 to 1813 he was the governer-general of a part of the Netherlands that was annexed by France. Although he considered Napoleon to be too autocratic he wasn't against him at the time of Napoleon's fall in 1814. Still Louis XVIII made him a peer of France after the restoration of the Bourbons. During the 100 Days he accepted a position under Napoleon once more. When the Bourbons returned to power again in 1815 he was suspended from the House of Peers, but in 1819 he was recalled. He died in 1824.

Related persons
• supported Napoleon I Bonaparte

Images
The grave of Charles François Lebrun at Père Lachaise, Paris. Picture by Androom (01 Nov 2022)	The grave of Charles François Lebrun at Père Lachaise, Paris. Picture by Androom (01 Nov 2022)