Héger, Constantin |
| TEACHER (BELGIUM) |
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BORN 1 Jul 1809, Brussel - DIED 6 May 1896, Brussel: Rue Montoyer 72 BIRTH NAME Heger, Romain Constantin Georges GRAVE LOCATION Watermael-Boitsfort, Brussel: Cimetière de Watermael-Boitsfort, Rue du buis 57 (not far from the entrance) |
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Constantin Héger was born in Brussels. His father Joseph Antoine Héger (1758-1822) probably had a jewellery shop and went bankrupt in 1815. Constantin moved to Paris in 1825 to look for work. He was secretary of a solicitor, but he had no means to establish a legal career for himself. He returned to Brussels in 1829 where he taught French and mathematics at the Athenée Royal. In 1830 he married Marie Joséphine Noyer (18/09/1804-26/09/1833). In September 1830 he fought on the barricades with the revolutionaries in Brussels. In 1833 Marie died of cholera and in 1834 his young son Gustave died as well. Héger was appointed as a teacher at the Veterinary College in Brussels as well. After the Athenée Royal Rue moved to the des Douze Apôtres, he met Claire Zoë Parent (13/07/1804-09/01/1890), who headed a nearby boarding school for girls at the rue Isabelle. He started teaching at her school as well and in 1836 they married. They had six children, including the painter Louise Héger and the biologist Paul Héger. In 1842 the sisters Emily and Charlotte Brontë entered the boarding school to improve their skill in languages. In return Charlotte taught English and Emily taught music. Charlotte was much impressed by Héger. Later in 1842 the sisters returned to Haworth after their aunt Elizabeth Branwell died in October of that year. In January 1843 Charlotte returned to Brussels alone to become a a teacher at the school. she fell in love with Héger. She taught him and his brother-in-law English every week and he paid her some attention but he did not answer her affections. His wife noted Charlotte's infatuation and disapproved of it. At the end of the term Héger praised Charlotte's achievements and took her to a concert in the Parc. But after that he left for the summer with his family, and she was left alone at the school. She returned to Haworth in the summer of 1844. Charlotte sent many letters to Héger and most of them remained unanswered. Héger had torn them up, but his wife Zoë hade retrieved them and put them together again. Charlotte used her experiences in Brussels in "The Professor", "Jane Eyre" and "Vilette". After Charlotte's death in 1856, Héger showed her letters to Elizabeth Gaskell, who was writing Charlotte's biography. Gaskell did not mention them in her biography. In 1913 Paul Héger donated them to the British Museum and they were published. Héger's letters to Charlotte were destroyed. In 1853 Héger became principal at the Athénée Royal. He resigned in 1855 because he objected to new methods that were implemented at the school. He continued teaching the class with the youngest children and continued his teaching at his wife's school. After their retirement they moved to the Rue Ducale in Brussels. Zoë died in 1890. After her death Héger moved to 72 Rue Montoyer,where he died in 1896. He was buried with Zoë at Watermael-Boitsfort. Family • Daughter: Héger, Louise • Son: Héger, Paul • Wife: Héger-Parent, Zoë (1836-1890) Related persons • was loved by Brontë, Charlotte • has a connection with Brontë, Emily |
| Images | |
 Plaque for Charlotte Brontë and Emily Brontë at the Museum of Fine Arts (BOZAR) in Brussels. Picture by Androom (26 May 2022) |
 The grave of Constantin Héger and Zoë Parent at the Cimetière de Watermael-Boitsfort, Brussels. Picture by Androom (27 May 2022) |
