Antoine Aude was born on January 17, 1799, in Aix-en-Provence.[1] His father, Antoine-Laurent-Michel Aude, was a lawyer at the Parlement of Aix-en-Provence before the French Revolution, then a Professor of Law, and he worked for the city council during the Revolution.[1][2] He studied the Law alongside François-Auguste Mignet (1796-1884) and Adolphe Thiers (1797-1877).[2]
He started his career as a lawyer in Aix.
He decided to embark upon a career in politics. He served as an advisor to the Mayor, Joseph Chambaud, during the cholera epidemic of 1835.[1] He went on to serve as the mayor of Aix-en-Provence from 1835 to 1848.[1][2] During his tenure, he brought gas lighting to the town, commissioned the construction of a canal built by François Zola (1796-1847), conceived the Canal du Verdon for water distribution (since then replaced by the Canal de Provence), commissioned the construction of a railroad track from Aix to Rognac, and established the Faculty of Letters, the Ecole Nationale des Arts et Métiers and a mental asylum.[1] He also conceived the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle Aix-en-Provence, together with his son.[1]
He stepped down during the French Revolution of 1848, when he handed it over to Émile Ollivier (1825–1913).[1][2] Shortly after, Jassuda Bédarrides would become the next Mayor of Aix.
He received the Knighthood of the Legion of Honour for his public service.[1][2]
He married Thérèse Heiriès (1804-1851).[1] They had a son:
- Philippe Félix Sextius Aude (1836-1912).[1]
He died on March 19, 1870.[1]
- The Rue Antoine Aude in Aix-en-Provence is named in his honour.[1][3] Formerly known as the Rue de l'Official, it changed its name in 1870.[3]
