Joseph Lebeau | |
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| 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 | (1794-01-03)3 January 1794 |
| Died | 19 March 1865(1865-03-19) (aged 71) |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
| Alma mater | University of Liège |
Jean Louis Joseph Lebeau (French pronunciation:[ʒɑ̃lwiʒozɛfləbo]; 3 January 1794 – 19 March 1865) was aBelgianliberal statesman, theprime minister of Belgium on two occasions.
Born inHuy, he received his early education from an uncle who wasparish priest inHannut, and became a clerk. He raised money to study Law at theUniversity of Liège, and was called to thebar association in 1819. While inLiège, he formed a fast friendship withCharles Rogier andPaul Devaux, together with whom he founded at Liege in 1824 theMathieu Laensbergh, afterwardsLe politique, a journal which helped to unite theCatholic Party with theLiberals in their opposition to the cabinet, without manifesting any open disaffection to theUnited Kingdom of the Netherlands.[1]
Lebeau had not aimed for the separation of theNetherlands and Belgium, but his hand was forced by theAugust Revolution of 1830. He was sent by his native district to theNational Congress, and became minister of foreign affairs in March 1831 during the interim regency ofÉrasme-Louis Surlet de Chokier. By proposing the election ofLeopold of Saxe-Coburg asKing of the Belgians he secured a benevolent attitude on the part of theUnited Kingdom, but the restoration to the Netherlands of part of the duchies ofLimburg andLuxembourg provoked a heated opposition to the 1839Treaty of London, and Lebeau was accused of treachery to Belgian interests.[1]
He resigned the direction of foreign affairs on the accession of King Leopold, but in the next year became minister of justice. He was elected deputy forBrussels in 1833, and retained his seat until 1848. Differences with the king led to his retirement in 1834. He was subsequently governor of theProvince of Namur (1838), ambassador to theFrankfurt Diet (1839), and in 1840 he formed a short-lived Liberal ministry. From this time he held no office of state, although he continued his energetic support of liberal andanti-clerical measures. He died at Huy.[1]
Lebeau publishedLa Belgique depuis 1847 (Brussels, 4 vols., 1852),Lettres aux électeurs belges (8 vols., Brussels, 1853–1856). HisSouvenirs personnels et correspondance diplomatique 1824–1841 (Brussels, 1883) were edited by A. Freson.[1]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Lebeau, Joseph".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 16 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 349.In turn, it cites as references:| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Belgium 1831 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Belgium 1840–1841 | Succeeded by |
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