Jean-Théodore Lacordaire
A renowned entomologist, Lacordaire was chosen to complete Dumont's term of office, in 1857-58. He was subsequently extended in this role by another term, from 1858 to 1861, during which the University of Liège faced serious problems with its premises, due to the growing number of students.
Il est pour tous les établissements d’enseignement public et privé, un criterium infaillible, sinon de leur valeur morale et scientifique, du moins de l’opinion publique à leur égard : c’est le nombre de jeunes gens qui viennent y chercher l’instruction. Celui que je vous ai signalé en commençant vous frappera encore davantage, si vous le mettez en regard de celui avec lequel s’est rouverte l’Université il y a vingt ans : 372 élèves en 1836, 729 en 1857.
Brother of the famous Dominican preacher, Jean-Théodore Lacordaire was born in 1801 in the Côte d'Or region of France. As a teenager, the future entomologist showed a keen interest in the natural sciences. For several years, he traveled around South America, bringing back observations that were soon published in the form of articles and books on entomology. In Paris, he met Pierre André Latreille and helped found the Société entomologique de France.
His reputation spread beyond France's borders, and he was appointed Professor of Zoology at the University of Liège (1835), where he taught until his death in July 1870. In 1857, he was appointed to complete the term of office ofAndré Dumont, who had died prematurely, and was extended in this position until 1861.
In his speeches at the start of the school year, Lacordaire made a point of sharing his latest reflections on animal instinct, intelligence and sociability, on lost species and on zoological geography. A member of the Académie royale de Belgique (1842), he also became secretary-general of the Société liégeoise de l'Émulation (1842-1846).1834 to 1838, he published his Introduction à l'entomologie, comprising the general principles of insect anatomy and physiology, and, in 1835, a Faune entomologique des environs de Paris. But his major work is a Histoire naturelle des insectes. ″Genera″ des Coléoptères (1854-1876), an immense work published in thirteen volumes and interrupted by his death.
Vous avez pu remarquer Messieurs, avant d’entrer dans cette enceinte, les changements qui ont eu lieu dans ses abords et qui contribueront, quand il seront terminés, à l’embellissement de la ville. Des jardins, dus aux soins et au bon goût de M. l’administrateur-inspecteur [Mathieu Lambert Polain], remplacent les terrains vagues qui entouraient cet édifice sur trois de ses faces et qui attristaient les regards par leur nudité et leur air d’abandon.
Rector Lacordaire's speeches at the reopening of classes
Illustration : Joseph Demanniez, Th. Lacordaire, burin, s.d., Musée Wittert ULiège, inv. 21073
