DECHAMPS, ADOLPHE. - Belgian Catholic statesman, b. 18 June 1807 at Melle near Ghent, d. 16 July 1875 at Scailmont near Manage. He began his career as a journalist. A member of the Chamber of Deputies from 1834 to 1864, he was one of the most effective spokesmen for the Catholics and played a major part in drafting the education law of 1842. In 1845 he became Minister of Foreign Affairs. Two years later he joined his party in opposition, which he led until 1864, when he retired from public life due to disagreements with his colleagues. As a publicist he left various studies on diplomatic and contemporary political history, distinguished by their objectivity and acuteness of judgment. In 1837 he founded the Katholieke Revue in Brussels. He was also a contributor to the Revue générale.
SILVIO Furlani