Alexis Guignard, comte de Saint Priest
Encyclopedia
Alexis Guignard, comte de Saint-Priest (27 April 1805 Saint Petersburg
- 29 September 1851 Moscow
) was a French diplomat and historian. He was the eleventh member elected to occupy seat 4 of the Académie française
in 1849.
Guignard was the son of an émigré
French nobleman Armand Charles Emmanuel Guignard, comte de Saint-Priest
(1782-1863) and his Russian wife, Princess Sophie Galitzine
. His grandfather, François-Emmanuel Guignard, comte de Saint-Priest
, was one of the last ministers of Louis XVI of France
.
Educated in Russia
, where his father was the Governor of Podolia
and Odessa
, Guignard returned to France
with his father in 1822. During the July Monarchy
, he departed from the Legitimist tradition of his family, particularly that of his uncle Emmanuel Louis Marie de Guignard, vicomte de Saint Priest
, to become a warm friend to King Louis-Philippe of France
, whom he served between 1833 and 1838 as an ambassador in Brazil
, Portugal
and Denmark
.
In the 1840s, Guignard made his mark as a historian and writer. His most important works were the Histoire de la royauté considérée dans ses origines jusqu'à la formation des principales monarchies de l'Europe (2 vols, 1842), the Histoire de la chute des Jésuites (1844) and the Histoire de la conquête de Naples (4 vols, 1847-1848).
Guignard died while on a visit to Moscow
, on September 29, 1851.
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
- 29 September 1851 Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
) was a French diplomat and historian. He was the eleventh member elected to occupy seat 4 of the Académie française
Académie française
L'Académie française , also called the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution,...
in 1849.
Guignard was the son of an émigré
Émigré
Émigré is a French term that literally refers to a person who has "migrated out", but often carries a connotation of politico-social self-exile....
French nobleman Armand Charles Emmanuel Guignard, comte de Saint-Priest
Armand Charles Emmanuel Guignard, comte de Saint-Priest
Armand Charles Emmanuel Guignard, comte de Saint-Priest was a French aristocrat who was involved in both the politics of France and the Russian Empire during the First French Empire and the Bourbon Restoration...
(1782-1863) and his Russian wife, Princess Sophie Galitzine
Galitzine
For Orthodox clergyman and theologian, see Alexander Golitzin.The Galitzines are one of the largest and noblest princely houses of Russia. Since the extinction of the Korecki family in the 17th century, the Golitsyns have claimed dynastic seniority in the House of Gediminas...
. His grandfather, François-Emmanuel Guignard, comte de Saint-Priest
François-Emmanuel Guignard, comte de Saint-Priest
François-Emmanuel Guignard, comte de Saint-Priest , was a French politician and diplomat during the Ancien Régime and French Revolution.-Early career:...
, was one of the last ministers of Louis XVI of France
Louis XVI of France
Louis XVI was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre until 1791, and then as King of the French from 1791 to 1792, before being executed in 1793....
.
Educated in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, where his father was the Governor of Podolia
Podolia
The region of Podolia is an historical region in the west-central and south-west portions of present-day Ukraine, corresponding to Khmelnytskyi Oblast and Vinnytsia Oblast. Northern Transnistria, in Moldova, is also a part of Podolia...
and Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
, Guignard returned to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
with his father in 1822. During the July Monarchy
July Monarchy
The July Monarchy , officially the Kingdom of France , was a period of liberal constitutional monarchy in France under King Louis-Philippe starting with the July Revolution of 1830 and ending with the Revolution of 1848...
, he departed from the Legitimist tradition of his family, particularly that of his uncle Emmanuel Louis Marie de Guignard, vicomte de Saint Priest
Emmanuel Louis Marie de Guignard, vicomte de Saint Priest
Emmanuel Louis Marie Guignard, vicomte de Saint-Priest , was a French politician and diplomat during the Bourbon Restoration. He was the son of François-Emmanuel Guignard, comte de Saint-Priest, one of King Louis XVI of France's last ministers...
, to become a warm friend to King Louis-Philippe of France
Louis-Philippe of France
Louis Philippe I was King of the French from 1830 to 1848 in what was known as the July Monarchy. His father was a duke who supported the French Revolution but was nevertheless guillotined. Louis Philippe fled France as a young man and spent 21 years in exile, including considerable time in the...
, whom he served between 1833 and 1838 as an ambassador in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
In the 1840s, Guignard made his mark as a historian and writer. His most important works were the Histoire de la royauté considérée dans ses origines jusqu'à la formation des principales monarchies de l'Europe (2 vols, 1842), the Histoire de la chute des Jésuites (1844) and the Histoire de la conquête de Naples (4 vols, 1847-1848).
Guignard died while on a visit to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, on September 29, 1851.