Joseph Lebeau
Belgian politician (1794–1865)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jean Louis Joseph Lebeau (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ lwi ʒozɛf ləbo]; 3 January 1794 – 19 March 1865) was a Belgian liberal statesman who served as prime minister of Belgium from 28 March to 21 July 1831, and again from 1840 to 1841.
Joseph Lebeau | |
|---|---|
| |
| Prime Minister of Belgium | |
| In office 18 April 1840 – 13 April 1841 | |
| Monarch | Leopold I |
| Preceded by | Barthélémy de Theux de Meylandt |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Baptiste Nothomb |
| In office 28 March 1831 – 21 July 1831 | |
| Monarch | Erasme Louis Surlet de Chokier (Regent) |
| Preceded by | Etienne Constantin de Gerlache |
| Succeeded by | Felix de Muelenaere |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 January 1794 |
| Died | 19 March 1865 (aged 71) |
| Party | Liberal Party |
| Alma mater | University of Liège |
Biography
Born in Huy, he received his early education from an uncle who was parish priest in Hannut, and became a clerk.[1] He raised money to study Law at the University of Liège, and was called to the bar association in 1819.[2] While in Liège, he formed a close friendship with Charles Rogier and Paul Devaux, together with whom he founded at Liège in 1824 the Mathieu Laensbergh, later renamed Le Politique.[3] The journal helped unite the Catholic Party with the Liberals in their opposition to the cabinet, without showing open disaffection toward the United Kingdom of the Netherlands.[4][5]
Political career
Lebeau had not aimed for the separation of the Netherlands and Belgium, but his hand was forced by the August Revolution of 1830.[6] He was sent by his native district to the National Congress, and became minister of foreign affairs in March 1831 during the interim regency of Érasme-Louis Surlet de Chokier.[7] By proposing the election of Leopold of Saxe-Coburg as King of the Belgians he secured a benevolent attitude on the part of the United Kingdom.[8] But the restoration to the Netherlands of part of the duchies of Limburg and Luxembourg provoked a heated opposition to the 1839 Treaty of London, and Lebeau was accused of treachery to Belgian interests.[9][5]
He resigned the direction of foreign affairs on the accession of King Leopold, but in the next year became minister of justice.[10] He was elected deputy for Brussels in 1833, and retained his seat until 1848.[11] Differences with the king led to his retirement in 1834.[12] He was subsequently governor of the Province of Namur (1838), ambassador to the Frankfurt Diet (1839), and in 1840 he formed a short-lived Liberal ministry.[13] From this time he held no office of state, although he continued his energetic support of liberal and anti-clerical measures.[14] He died at Huy.[15][5]
Works
Lebeau published La Belgique depuis 1847 (Brussels, 4 vols., 1852), Lettres aux électeurs belges (8 vols., Brussels, 1853–1856). His Souvenirs personnels et correspondance diplomatique 1824–1841 (Brussels, 1883) were edited by A. Freson.[5]
Honours
- Officer Order of Leopold.[16]
