Bertin

Bertin, LOUIS FRANÇOIS, called Bertin l'Aîné, an eminent French journalist, was born in Paris, December 14, 1766. The Revolution made him a journalist, and in 1799 he started the famous Journal des Débats. His royalist principles offended Napoleon, and cost him imprisonment and banishment to Elba; thence, however, he escaped to Rome, where he formed a friendship with Châteaubriand. In 1805 he returned to Paris, and resumed the editorship of the Débats, but was much hampered by Napoleon. The second restoration of the Bourbons restored once more to Bertin the free control of his journal, and henceforward he gave almost constant support to the ministerial party. He supported the July monarchy, and edited the Débats till his death, 13th September 1841.—ARMAND LOUIS MARIE BERTIN, son of the former, was born in Paris, August 22, 1801, and became, after the restoration, secretary to Châteaubriand during his embassy in England. In 1820 he joined the editorial staff of the Journal des Débats, and at his father's death assumed the chief direction. He died at Paris, January 11, 1854.