LEROUX, PIERRE, 1798-1871; b. France; having pursued a course of scientific study in the schools of Paris and Rennes, entered a printing-office in the French capital. In 1824, with De Broglie, Cousin, and others, he established the Globe, a newspaper of a literary and philosophic character, which expounded the views of the doctrinaires, and afterward in the revolution of 1830, when in sole charge of the journal, he embraced the tenets of the St. Simonians and helped to disseminate their doctrines. In 1831, a year before the career of Enfantin, one of the founder of St. Simonism, culminated in imprison ,inent, he separated from him, and joined Jean Earnest Reynaud as his collaborator on 'the Revue Encyclopedique, which they conducted for three years with small success. In 1838, with the same associate, he commenced the Encyclopedia .Nouvelle. In 1839 he published De l'Humanite de Son .Principe et de Son Atenir, elucidating his philosophical and socialistic ideas, and giving his conception of the progressive nature of all things.
In 1841. associated with Viardot and Mine. George Sand, he established the Revue Independante. In 1845 he removed to Boussac, devoted himself to journalism in the direction of radical politics, and was elected mayor; he was also chosen representative to the national assembly. In 1851 he took up his residence in Jersey, but in 1869 in the general amnesty he returned to Paris, having passed some time in Switzerland. As a socialist he is considered pure, honest, and genuine in his convictions, combining mystical doctrine with a system for social organization. In 1843 he published a trans lation of Goethe's Werther, with a preface by Mme. George Sand. Besides several works of greater pretensions he published Job, a drama, and The Samarese Beach, a philosophic poem.