Jean-Charles Persil (13 October 1785 – 10 July 1870) was a French politician. He was Minister of Justice and Religious Affairs (1834–1837) during the

July Monarchy The July Monarchy (french: Monarchie de Juillet), officially the Kingdom of France (french: Royaume de France), was a liberal constitutional monarchy in France under , starting on 26 July 1830, with the July Revolution of 1830, and ending 23 F ...

, a peer of France (1839) and Councillor of State (1852).

Early years

Jean-Charles Persil was born in

Condom, Gers Condom ( oc, Condòm; ), also known as Condom-en-Armagnac, is a commune in southwestern France in the department of Gers, of which it is a subprefecture. Geography Localisation The town of Condom is located in the northern part of the depar ...

, on 13 October 1785. His parents were Jean-Joseph Persil, a merchant and bourgeois, and Marie Denux. He was destined for the bar. He came to Paris early, studied law for one year and was received as a doctor in 1806. He published a book on mortgages in 1809, followed by one on privileges and mortgages in 1812. He considered teaching law, and competed for a chair at Grenoble and at Paris. He was admitted to the bar and he earned a solid reputation as a jurist. Under the

Bourbon Restoration Bourbon Restoration may refer to: France under the House of Bourbon: * Bourbon Restoration in France (1814, after the French revolution and Napoleonic era, until 1830; interrupted by the Hundred Days in 1815) Spain under the Spanish Bourbons: * ...

(1815-1830) Persil participated in the struggles of the Liberal party. He defended his friend

Nicolas Bavoux Nicolas or Nicolás may refer to: People Given name * Nicolas (given name) Mononym * Nicolas (footballer, born 1999), Brazilian footballer * Nicolas (footballer, born 2000), Brazilian footballer Surname Nicolas * Dafydd Nicolas (c.1705–1774), ...

before the Court of Peers.

July Monarchy

Persil was elected deputy for the 2nd district of Gers (Condom) on 23 June 1830. He protested against the ordinances of

Charles X of France Charles X (born Charles Philippe, Count of Artois; 9 October 1757 – 6 November 1836) was King of France from 16 September 1824 until 2 August 1830. An uncle of the uncrowned Louis XVII and younger brother to reigning kings Louis XVI and Lou ...

, and supported making the Duke of Orleans Lieutenant-General of the kingdom. He concurred with the establishment of the

Louis Philippe I Louis Philippe (6 October 1773 – 26 August 1850) was King of the French from 1830 to 1848, and the penultimate monarch of France. As Louis Philippe, Duke of Chartres, he distinguished himself commanding troops during the Revolutionary War ...

. He was appointed general counsel at the royal court of Paris. On 8 November 1830 he was reelected for the fourth district of Gers (Lombez). As deputy and magistrate Persil supported the conservatives and fought the democratic liberal party with great energy. He attacked the republican clubs and newspapers, denounced conspiracies and meted out severe punishments. He became a target of hostile cartoonists, who gave him a huge saw-shaped nose. On 4 April 1834 Persil was called by Louis Philippe to replace

Félix Barthe Félix Barthe (28 July 1795 – 28 February 1863) was a French lawyer, Deputy, Minister of Public Education and then Minister of Justice. He was the first President of the Court of Accounts (1834–37, 1839–63) and became a Senator of the Second ...

as Minister of Justice and Religious Affairs. He ran again for election due to this appointment, and was returned on 15 May 1834 and then on 21 June 1834 in three districts, choosing to represent Condom. He remained minister until 22 February 1836. He was again minister from 6 September 1836 to 15 April 1837 in the

first cabinet of Louis Mathieu Molé The First cabinet of Louis Mathieu Molé was announced on 6 September 1836 by King Louis Philippe I. It replaced the First cabinet of Adolphe Thiers. On 19 September 1836 the Ministry of Commerce was replaced by the Ministry of Public Works, Agric ...

. He resigned when Molé refused to dissolve the chamber. He was made president of the committee on currency, but was forced to resign early in 1839. Persil was again elected Deputy on 4 November 1837 and on 2 March 1839. He was made a Peer of France on 7 November 1839. On 24 April 1845 he was made a Grand Officer of the

Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

. Until 1848 he supported the government of Louis Philippe with his votes and speeches.

Later career

After the

February Revolution The February Revolution ( rus, Февра́льская револю́ция, r=Fevral'skaya revolyutsiya, p=fʲɪvˈralʲskəjə rʲɪvɐˈlʲutsɨjə), known in Soviet historiography as the February Bourgeois Democratic Revolution and somet ...

of 1848 Persil returned to private life. He accepted the position of Councillor of State on 31 July 1852. Persil had acquired the Maison Chénier in

Antony, Hauts-de-Seine Antony () is a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, France, from the centre of Paris. Antony is a subprefecture of the Hauts-de-Seine department and the seat of the arrondissement of Antony. Watered by the Bièvre, a tributary of the ...

, in 1820, and had enlarged it. He made it his place of retirement. He died in Antony on 10 July 1870, aged 84.

Works

* ''Régime hypothécaire, ou commentaire sur le XVIIIe titre du livre III du Code civil, relatif aux privilèges et hypothèques'', Paris, chez P. Gueffier, 1809, in-8 (nlle. éd. augmentée 1817, 2 vol. in-8) * ''Questions sur les privilèges et hypothèques, saisies immobilières et ordres, faisant suite au Régime hypothécaire ; contenant la solutions des difficultés qui se présentent habituellement devant les Tribunaux, ou sur lesquelles l'Auteur a été consulté'', Paris, chez P. Gueffier, 1812, 2 vol. in-8 (nlle. éd. 1820) * ''Dissertation sur le rétablissement du droit d'aînesse et des substitutions'', Paris, Baudouin frères, 1826, in-8 * ''Lettres de M. Persil, député de l'arrondissement de Condom, aux rédacteurs de ″La Presse″ et des ″Débats″'' � l'occasion de son départ de la Direction générale des monnaies 1839

References

Citations Sources * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Persil, Jean-Charles 1785 births 1870 deaths People from Gers Politicians from Occitania (administrative region) French Ministers of Justice and Religious Affairs Members of the 1st Chamber of Deputies of the July Monarchy Members of the 2nd Chamber of Deputies of the July Monarchy Members of the 3rd Chamber of Deputies of the July Monarchy Members of the 4th Chamber of Deputies of the July Monarchy Members of the 5th Chamber of Deputies of the July Monarchy Members of the Chamber of Peers of the July Monarchy Burials at Père Lachaise Cemetery