DECHAMPS, ADOLPHE

DECHAMPS, ADOLPHE. — Belgian Catholic statesman, born on 18 June 1807 at Melle near Ghent, died on 16 July 1875 at Scalimont 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 Catholics’ most effective spokesmen and played a major role in drafting the law on education in 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 withdrew from public life because of disagreements with his colleagues. As a writer, he left various studies of diplomatic history and contemporary politics, distinguished by their objectivity and acuteness of judgment. In 1837 he founded the Katholieke Revue of Brussels. He also contributed to the Revue générale.

Silvio Furlani