Berryer

Berryer, PIERRE ANTOINE, a distinguished French advocate and political orator, was born in Paris, 4th January 1790, and first distinguished himself by his brilliant defence of Lammennais in 1826, and Châteauaubriand in 1833. In 1829 he was chosen deputy, and ever afterwards steadily represented the rights and policy of the elder Bourbons. His legitimist tendencies kept him for a time in the political background under Louis-Philippe; but as the legitimist party in the Chamber increased, his position grew in importance. He repeatedly undertook the defence of persons prosecuted by the government, not only of his own party, but republican leaders. It was he who defended Louis Napoleon, 1840, after the Boulogne escapade, as well as Montalembert afterwards in 1858. With the elder Bourbons he was in constant communication, and was one of the heads of the legitimist party who made a pilgrimage to the Count of Chambord in London in 1843. After the revolution of 1848, he represented the Bouches-du-Rhône; seemed inclined to support the government of the president, Louis Napoleon; and became a member of his privy-council. But this did not hinder him from going to Wiesbaden in 1850 to do homage to the Count of Chambord. He was one of the few who boldly protested against the coup d'état. In 1854 he was elected a member of the French Academy. His inaugural speech contained some uncomplimentary allusions to the emperor, and its publication was for a time prohibited. He died at his country seat near Paris, 29th November 1868. His Discours Parlementaires fill 5 vols. (1872-74); his Plaidoyers, 4 vols. (1875-78). His statue was erected in the Palace of Justice at Paris in 1879.