LABORDE, COIITE ALEXANDRE-LOUIS-JOSEPH DE, was born on the 17th of September 1773, at Paris. His father, a peasant of Warn, is stated to have come to Paris in sabots (wooden shoes), and to have accumulated some property. Alexandre de Laborde received a good education. His father, foreseeing the dangers of the Revolution, seat him to Vieuna, where he became successively sub lieutenant, captaiu, ai to-de-camp, and commander of a squadron of light horse. His father became one of the victims of the revolution, and was guillotined in 1794. When war was declared between France and Austria, Alexandre de Laborde continued in the service of Austria, and fought in five campaigns against his native country. After the treaty of Campo Formio in 1797 he returned to France and devoted himself to study. He travelled in Spain, Italy, and England. After his return to France he solicited and obtained employment from Napoleon I. in the civil service. In 143 he was appointed Auditeur to the Conseil dttat. In 1809 lie became Maitre des liequtItes to the Conseil d'Etat, and was created a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. In 1810 he was made President of the commission for the liquidation of the debts of the grand army, aud in 1811 Admiuistrateur of the Pouts et (lounges for the department of the Seine, In 1814 he was appointed Adjutant-Major of the National Guard of Paris, and on the Slat of March in that year ho was sent to the camp of the allied army to treat of the capitulation as far as regarded the National Guard. After his return he was appointed Colonel of the Etat-Major of the National Guard, and received from Louis XVIIL the cross of St. Louis and that of the Legion of Honour. lie afterwards travelled again in England. On his return to France in 1815 he published a Plan d'Edueation pour lea Enfants Pauvres, d'aprea lea 3lethodes combinees de Bell et de Lancaster,' and was daring three years Secretary-Gencrel to the Central Society which founded the system of mutual instruction in France. In 1816 he published a' Rapport cur lea Travaux de Ia Societe de Paris pour Ilustruction Elemantaire.' In 1819 he was appointed Maitre des Requites en Service Ordinairo. In 1822 he was elected a member of the Chamber of Deputies by the College de In Seine, and spoke frequently and fervently in favour of liberal load tntions. He opposed the war with Spain, and in 1824 was struck off the list of the Conseil d'Etat. Having been again elected a member of the Chamber of Deputies in 1827, he opposed the Martignao ministry, end was also one of the opposition during the Polignac minis try. When the ordinances of July 1830 were promulgated he spoke against them decidedly and energetically, declared himself in favour of the insurrection, and risked his life in the popular cause on the 27th of July. On the 29th he advised the deputies to place them
selves at the head of the movement ; and when the H6tel de Ville was taken by the insurrectionists he was one of those who proposed that the sittings should be held there. The contest having been decided in favour of the people, he accepted the post of Prefect of the Seine, or first magistrate of Paris. Louis-Philippe r000 afterwards appointed him one of his aides de-camp, with the rank of General of Brigade of the National Guard, and restored him to his place in the Conseil d'Etat. He was afterwards a deputy for the department of Seine-et Oise. Ile died on the 24th of October 1842.
Count Alexandre de Laborde was elected a member of tho Institute (Academie dee Inscriptions et Belles Lettres) in 1813. He was also a member of the Academie des Sciences Morales et Politiques (section &Economia Pulitique), and of the Society of Antiquaries of London. He was one of the editors of the ' Revue Encyclopedique ' from its commencement. He was also a contributor to the ' Univers Pitto resque ' (departments of Spain and Portugal), and to the Journal des Conoaiaeances Utiles.' Besides his contributions to periodical litera ture, he was the author of several splendid works, of which the following are the most important Voyage Pittoreeque et Historique de l'Espagne,' 4 vols. folio, Paris, 1807-18. Itinerairo Descriptif de l'Espagne,' 5 vols. 8vo, Paris, 1808, with Atlas in 4to. The third edition was considerably enlarged, and was preceded by a 'Notice sur la Configuration de l'Espagne, et de son Clitnat, par 31. de Humboldt, et d'nu Apereu sur Is Geographie Physique, par 31. le Colonel Bory de Saint-Vincent, et d'un Abrege Historique de Ia Monarchic Espaguole et des Invasions de la Peninsula jusqu'h nos Jours,' with vignettes, maps, &e. ' Voyage Pittoresque en Autriche,' 2 vols. folio, Paris, 1821. ' Collection des Vases Grecs de M. le Comte de Lem berg,' 2 vols. folio, Paris, 1813.24, containing 154 plates printed in colours and carefully retouched. ' Lee Monuments de la France classes chronologiquement, et conaideres sous le Rapport des Arts,' 2 vole. folio, Pads, 1832-36, containing 259 plates. originally published in 45 numbers, 1816, &c. 'Description des Obelisques de Louqsor, figures our les Places de la Concorde et dee Invalides, et Precis dee Operations relatives au Transport d'un de cea Monuments dans Is Capitale,' 8vo, Paris, 1834. ' Voyage de Is Syde,' in conjunction with his son Comte Leon do Laborde. 'Versailles, Ancien et Moderne,' 8vo, Paris, 1839.40, with upwards of 400 woodcuts.