Antoine-Augustin Renouard
Antoine-Augustin Renouard | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Paris, France |
| Died | December 15, 1853 (aged 88) |
| Occupation(s) | Industrial entrepreneur, bookseller, printer, bibliographer, politician |
| Years active | 1781–1830 (business), 1792–1830 (publishing), 1830–? (politics) |
| Known for | Bookselling, printing, bibliography, political involvement during French Revolution |
Antoine-Augustin Renouard (21 September 1765 – 15 December 1853) was an industrial entrepreneur and political figure based in Paris during the French Revolution. He subsequently gained recognition as a distinguished bookseller, printer, and expert bibliographer.
Life
Born in Paris in 1765, Renouard was the son of Jacques-Augustin Renouard (1736–1806), a merchant and manufacturer who specialized in Gauze and Silk within central Paris. In 1781, Antoine-Augustin became involved in the family enterprise, which operated from "rue Sainte-Apolline" located in today’s 2nd arrondissement.
During the initial stages of the French Revolution, Renouard engaged actively in politics by joining the Jacobin faction. He served on the General Council of the Paris Commune and held the role of Civil Commissioner in 1793. Simultaneously, he embarked on his vocation as a bookseller and publisher starting in 1792, while continuing his participation in gauze and silk production until roughly 1797. His early publishing efforts were distinguished by their refined style and accuracy, frequently featuring Latin and French texts accompanied by engravings from artists like Jean-Michel Moreau, Alexandre-Joseph Desenne, and Pierre-Paul Prud'hon. His publications were marked by a distinctive emblem depicting a patriotic rooster perched atop an anchor.
The Thermidorian Reaction in July 1794 brought a halt to his political and commercial pursuits; after Robespierre's downfall, Renouard was detained alongside other members of the Commune. Upon his release in December 1794, he dedicated himself mainly to his publishing business, maintaining this focus until 1830.
Following the July Revolution of 1830, which once again ended Bourbon rule, Renouard returned to public service as mayor of Paris’s 11th arrondissement. He was honored with the Legion of Honour in 1831. In 1834, he purchased the Abbey of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, a former royal estate that had been nationalized during the revolution and sold off to support government finances.
Publications
Renouard’s catalog of published works encompassed significant titles such as:
- Coup-d'oeil sur les monnoies, sur leur administration et sur le ministre des contributions publiques, Paris, 1793
- Catalogue de la bibliothèque d'un amateur, 1819
- Annales de l'imprimerie des Alde, ou Histoire des trois Manuce et de leurs éditions, Paris, 1803-1812; second edition Paris, 1825; third edition
- Annales de l'imprimerie des Estienne, published in 1837 and 1843
- Recueil de 123 fables en 5 livres, imitées d'Ésope, including the "Appendix Perottina" and "Phaedrus solutus"
- Sorte de journal, écrit en grec, divisé actuellement en 12 livres, méditations sur la vanité des choses terrestres, Pensées, with Renouard serving as scientific editor
Family
In 1794, Renouard wed Catherine de Saintes (1772–1858), daughter of the Marquis of Beauchamps and Countess Ferdinanda Louise de Horion. They had five children:
- Augustin-Charles Renouard (1794–1878), who became a magistrate, moralist, and politician
- Eugénie Renouard (1795–1871)
- Jules Renouard (1794–1854), who pursued careers as a bookseller and editor
- Paul Renouard (1803–1871), known as a consul and painter
- Hippolyte Renouard (1808–1871), who served as a squadron leader
Among his notable grandchildren were:
- Albert Ricot (1826–1902), an iron industry leader and political figure
- Léopold Renouard (1833–1910), financier and deputy governor at the Bank of France
- Georges Renouard (1843–1897), who married into the family of city planner Baron Haussmann
- Lucie Renouard, spouse of populist politician Général Boulanger