THIERS, ADOLPHE. - French statesman and historian, b. in Marseille on 18 Apr. 1797, d. in Paris on 3 Sept. 1877.
He studied law at Aix, then in 1821 began in Paris a vast journalistic activity, collaborating with the Globe and the Constitutionnel. With E. Manuel, J. Laffitte, C. M. Talleyrand and C. G. Etienne he began the political opposition to the Bourbons. He achieved fame with the Histoire de la Révolution Française published between 1823 and 1827. The opposition to Charles X became more bitter after T. had founded, toward the end of 1829 and in collaboration with Mignet and Carrel, a newspaper, the National, which steered public opinion toward the Duke Philip of Orléans. After the Revolution of '30 he became one of the most important figures of the new regime: he was deputy for Aix, councillor of State and undersecretary of Finance, then minister of the Interior in the cabinet of Marshal Soult.
He showed great firmness in the arrest of the Duchess of Berry and in the suppression of the social disturbances of Paris and Lyon in 1834. After the fall of Soult, he was again minister of the Interior (1835) and President of the Council in Feb.-Sept. 1836.
He resumed power in 1840, but failed to support, within the broad framework of a Mediterranean policy, the pasha of Egypt Muhammad 'Ali, ancient [ally] of France. An incomparable orator and rich in experience, he was instead more skillful in the opposition which, from '40 to '48, he conducted against Guizot. After the Revolution of Feb. '48, he became the head of the party of order, fought socialism and did not oppose the candidacy of Louis Bonaparte; he contributed greatly to deciding the military expedition against the Roman Republic. After the coup d'état he was arrested and exiled. Pardoned after a few months, he returned to France in '52 and completed the Histoire du Consulat et de l'Empire ('45-'62), glorifying the founder of the Empire (in '40 he had also had Napoleon's ashes transported to Paris). Elected deputy for Paris in '63 and in '69, he called at home for the liberties necessary to France and fought Napoleon III's foreign policy favorable to Italian unity. In 1870 he opposed in vain the Franco-Prussian war, and after the defeat he was head of the executive power and then President of the Republic, applying all his competence to the conclusion of peace with Prussia, the elimination of the Paris Commune and the financial reconstruction of France which allowed the withdrawal of the Prussian troops before the established deadline. A monarchical reaction forced him to resign (24 May 1873); he died in 1877 when the Republic of Gambetta and Favre was by then consolidated.
As a historian T. is a master of precision as regards particulars, diplomatic, military and financial; for this reason the Histoire du Consulat et de l'Empire still retains its importance today; while he shows scant interest in the history of ideas, of religious conscience and of the economy. The style is fluid and plain, but devoid of originality and beauty. Considered the head of the «fatalist» historical school, he is classified by Fueter among the liberal continuators of Voltairean historiography.