Charles Joseph Mathieu Lambrechts | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Justice | |
| In office 24 September 1797 – 20 July 1799 | |
| Preceded by | Philippe-Antoine Merlin de Douai |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Jacques-Régis de Cambacérès |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1753-11-20)20 November 1753 |
| Died | 4 August 1823(1823-08-04) (aged 69) Paris,Kingdom of France |
| Occupation |
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Charles Joseph Mathieu Lambrechts (20 November 1753 – 4 August 1823) was anAustrian Netherlands-born lawyer,rector magnificus of theUniversity of Louvain, who became Minister of Justice of the French Republic, during theDirectoire. Later he was a deputy from 1819 to 1824.
Charles Joseph Mathieu Lambrechts was born inSint-Truiden,Austrian Netherlands, on 20 November 1753.His father was Gilles de Lambrechts, a colonel in the army of theStates General of the Netherlands.[1]He studied civil and canon law atLeuven.[2]He graduated in 1774, became a professor in 1777 and a doctor in 1782.He was elected rector of the university in 1786.[1]
In the year 1778 he was initiated to the Lodge The True and Perfect Harmony of Mons.[3]
In 1788 the EmperorJoseph II charged Lambrechts with visiting the universities of Germany.[2]The goal was for him to study legal education in Germany with the promise that when he returned he would be given the chair of public law and international law in Leuven.TheBrabant Revolution (January 1789 – December 1790) upset this plan.Lambrechts sided with the emperor, left Belgium, and only returned after the restoration of imperial authority.[1]In 1793 he established himself in Brussels to practice as an attorney.[4]
Lambrechts declared himself a supporter of the Revolution after the French entered the Austrian Netherlands.He became a municipal officer in Brussels, a member of the central government, then President of the central administration of theDepartment of Dyle.In 1797, theFrench Directory appointed him to replaceMerlin de Douai at the Ministry of Justice.He held this position from 3 Vendémiaire VI (24 Septembre 1797) to 3 Messidor VIII (22 June 1800).He was a candidate to become a Director whenEmmanuel Joseph Sieyès was chosen in place ofJean-François Rewbell.[1]In January 1798 Lambrechts defined the principles that would be followed in the territories occupied by the French armies, writing that servitude was accompanied by ignorance, and freedom could only come when the people were enlightened. They must therefore learn French in school so they could become virtuous citizens.[5]
After thecoup of 18 Brumaire VIII (9 November 1799) when theFrench Consulate came to power Lambrechts was made a member of theSénat conservateur.[2]He was appointed to the Senate on 3 Nivôse VIII (24 December 1799).[1]
Lambrechts spoke out againstNapoleon Bonaparte's accumulation of power, and was one of three senators who voted against establishment of theempire.[2]Despite this, he was appointed a member of the Legion of Honour on 9 Vendémiaire XII (2 October 1803) and was created Count of the Empire on 13 May 1808.[1]In 1814 Lambrechts was at the head of the minority, and wrote the preamble to the act of deposition of Napoleon.[2][a]He was a member of the commission to prepare a new constitution.However, KingLouis XVIII refused to sanction it.[1]Lambrechts refused to give his oath to the emperor during theHundred Days.[2]He retired to private life during the Hundred Days, and did not return to politics until 1819, after the second Bourbon Restoration.[7]
On 11 September 1819 Lambrechts was elected to the chamber of deputies for two departments.[1]His health prevented him from appearing except on rare occasions.Lambrechts died on 4 August 1825. He left part of his fortune to various charitable institutions.[2]
Lambrechts' surviving published works include:[8]
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