Edme-Joachim Bourdois de La Motte (14 September 1754 – 7 December 1835) was a French doctor.

Biography

Edme-Joachim Bourdois de La Motte was born at

Joigny Joigny () is a Communes of France, commune in the Yonne Departments of France, department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France. It is located on the banks of the river Yonne (river), Yonne. History The current city, originally kno ...

Burgundy Burgundy (; french: link=no, Bourgogne ) is a historical territory and former administrative region and province of east-central France. The province was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th century. The c ...

, the son of a famous doctor. He studies at the College of

Auxerre Auxerre ( , ) is the capital of the Yonne department and the fourth-largest city in Burgundy. Auxerre's population today is about 35,000; the urban area (''aire d'attraction'') comprises roughly 113,000 inhabitants. Residents of Auxerre are r ...

then goes to

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

in order to do his medical education. He defends his thesis in 1777-1778 and becomes doctor at the age of 24. He begins his career in 1778 at the hospital of Charity. The next year, he becomes doctor of the

Count of Provence The land of Provence has a history quite separate from that of any of the larger nations of Europe. Its independent existence has its origins in the frontier nature of the dukedom in Merovingian Gaul. In this position, influenced and affected by ...

. Suspected in 1793, he is jailed but soon released thanks to his wife and to his friend the surgeon Dubois. In 1794, he is chief medical officer of the army of the Alps where he has to face an epidemic of Typhus. When he returns to Paris, he narrowly misses to be arrested by the

Directory Directory may refer to: * Directory (computing), or folder, a file system structure in which to store computer files * Directory (OpenVMS command) * Directory service, a software application for organizing information about a computer network's u ...

. This time, he owes his freedom to Talleyrand. He meets

Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

during this period and the two men become friends. But their relation falls back when Bourdois refuses to participate in the Campaign of Italy. They will not meet again before 1811. During these years, Bourdois faces some epidemics and goes on an academic career. In 1811, Napoleon gives him the charge of the first physician to

King of Rome The king of Rome ( la, rex Romae) was the ruler of the Roman Kingdom. According to legend, the first king of Rome was Romulus, who founded the city in 753 BC upon the Palatine Hill. Seven legendary kings are said to have ruled Rome until 509 ...

, with the recommendation of Corvisart, an old friend of Bourdois from medical school. Soon after, in 1812, Bourdois is made baron. In 1820, he becomes an early member of the Royal Academy of Medecine, which he chairs in 1822, 1823 and 1829. Bourdois died on 7 December 1835 at the age of 81, just after having completed a report on Corvisart and his titles for the Academy.

External links

Biography of Edme Joachim Bourdois de La Motte
on the Napoleon & Empire website

References

1754 births 1835 deaths People from Joigny Barons of the First French Empire 19th-century French physicians 18th-century French physicians Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur {{France-med-bio-stub