Adolf Thiers connected his life with the history of France. In addition to his political activities, he left his mark on historical science. His great merit was the ability to get along with different people, to reconcile differences between them.
At the end of his political career, he evoked a feeling of hatred in many. Due to his small stature and large glasses on his nose, he was considered a great original. Later, in appearance and political views, ill-wishers came up with a humiliating nickname for him. What is known about the biography of the historian and politician?
Young years
Louis Adolphe Thiers was born on 1797-16-04 in Marseille. His father was a descendant of successful bourgeois. The paternal grandfather was a lawyer, he was also the chief secretary and controller of finances in Marseille. During the revolution of 1789, he was deprived of all posts, like his mother's relatives.
Adolf's childhood passed in poverty. At school, he showed good abilities, so he was able to study further at the expense of the community. In Aix-en-Provence he studied law, after which he became a lawyer.
In 1821 Adolf moved to Paris. He began to live with Minye.
Journalism
At first Adolphe Thiers and his friend were in dire need, but everything changed after the start of cooperation with one of the magazines. He began to write works on literature and art, political articles.
In 1822, a collection of articles dedicated to an art exhibition was published. The following year, a description of his journey to the south was published. The work was imbued with political views regarding protectionism. These works made the magazine successful, and their author was provided with financial stability.
Working on a vast work
At the same time, Adolphe Thiers was working on his work, which described the French Revolution. It was distinguished by its scientific nature and detail.
In The History of the French Revolution, Louis Adolphe Thiers could speak of all events in the tone of a specialist. For example, pictures of battles were described as if the author was familiar with military affairs. Adolf had an elegant style of presenting the material. This made the book a success among the general public.
All works of Thiers are permeated with the idea of causality. The author believed that the revolution was not an accident, but the result of a chain of events. Many reproached him for fatalism, that is, the belief in the predestination of life. The author was also accused of worshiping success. He sympathized with those who came to power. Adolf himself believed that success crowns real virtues. Failure is the result of mistakes.
Thier's book was of great political importance. At that time, society had a negative attitude towards the revolution, butthe work breathed sympathy for what had happened, love for freedom. The first edition sold 150,000 copies. The author made corrections in subsequent editions. They concerned changes in the political views of the writer.
Political activities
In 1829, Adolphe Thiers, whose brief biography is connected with the revolution, founded the newspaper together with Mignet and Carrel. He published an article in which he spoke of loy alty to the Bourbons on the condition that the dynasty would strictly observe the constitutional charter of 1814.
Since the government of Charles the Tenth did not want to follow the charter, Adolf announced through the newspaper about the candidacy of the Duke of Orleans for the throne. Thiers was given a heavy fine for this.
In 1830, an article was published about a king who does not govern his state. When the July ordinances appeared, Adolf spoke out against them, because they violated the charter. The journalist should have been arrested.
When Louis-Philippe came to power, Thiers became the representative of the state council. He worked in the Ministry of Finance and advocated the ideas of the revolution, demanding protection for Belgium. He also wrote extensively on press freedom.
In 1831, Thiers became a supporter of the conservative movement of Perrier. He was opposed to Belgium being annexed to France, as well as any drastic reforms. Words about "freedom" began to be replaced by words about "order".
Then there was participation in the ministry of 1832, participation in the massacre of the rebels in 1834, support for the September laws of 1835, whichrestricted freedom of the press. Thiers ministries were formed in 1836 and 1840, then activities in opposition.
In 1845 there was a revolution, Thiers became a Republican. During the Second Empire, he became one of the leaders of the monarchists, and in 1871 he created his own government. He waged war on the commune, earning him the nickname "monster dwarf".
Continuation of the "History of the Revolution"
In 1845 Adolphe Thiers presented the first volumes of the History of the Consulate and the Empire. In scientific terms, this work stood above the first work. The fact is that during his work, Thiers gained access to various archives. The main character of creation was Napoleon. The author rehabilitated the ruler of France.
Presidency and death
In 1871 Adolf was elected President of France. He also remained president of the cabinet. He managed to suppress the communes, to pay a significant part of the military indemnities. Under his rule, France once again became a great power.
In domestic politics, the president perfectly balanced between different parties. He himself leaned more towards monarchists and clerics.
He held the following views:
- played for a five-year military service;
- defended protectionism;
- was opposed to the secular compulsory primary education law.
In 1873, Adolf resigned, she was accepted. A few years later he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies. Many counted on his rise, but the biography of Adolphe Thiers ended due to a stroke. It happened on 1877-03-09 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
