François Guizot            François Guizot, a French statesman and historian, was born in 1787. He was at first a politician but soon after became a professor. He was involved with the July Revolution of 1830 and became one of the premier intellectuals of Louis Philippe's July Monarchy. He instituted a new system of primary education in 1833 when he became the minister of public construction. He established a stable government but his acceptance of the established order led to his overthrow and the abdication of Louis Philippe in 1848. He then dedicated the rest of his life to writing, with his final piece covering France until the 14th century left unfinished. He was important because he was one of the most intelligent thinkers of his time, and although he meant to help the working class, he never reached his goal, and the lack of support his projects were giving to the working class inspired the February Revolution of 1848.
Home