Seat 37 of the Académie française was held by Jean-Jacques Ampère from 1847 until his death in 1864. A multi-faceted figure in the French intellectual scene, he navigated roles as a philologist, literary historian, and classical scholar. His professional output bridged the gap between foreign epics and the French reading public throughout the nineteenth century.
Early Influences and Research
Born in Lyon in 1800, Jean-Jacques Antoine Ampère was the son of physicist André-Marie Ampère. His academic formation included an extensive tour of northern Europe, where he focused on the study of Scandinavian folk songs and popular poetry. Upon his return to France in 1830, he presented these findings at the Athenaeum in Marseille. This work, titled De l'Histoire de la poésie, served as an introduction to German and Scandinavian epics for his contemporaries.
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Ampère relocated to Paris, where he secured a teaching position at the Sorbonne and later served as a professor of the history of French literature at the Collège de France. His research interests expanded through significant travels. A tour of northern Africa in 1841 preceded a journey through Greece and Italy alongside figures such as Prosper Mérimée, Jean de Witte, and Charles Lenormant. These expeditions resulted in Voyage dantesque, later published as part of Grèce, Rome et Dante in 1848, a work credited with increasing the popularity of Dante’s studies within France.
Final Works and Legacy
After becoming a member of the Académie française in 1848, Ampère continued his international engagements, including a visit to America in 1851. His later years were dedicated to the composition of his primary work, L'Histoire romaine à Rome, spanning four volumes published between 1861 and 1864. He died in Pau in 1864 and was interred at the Montmartre Cemetery in Paris. His contribution to literature remains documented through his membership in various institutions, including the Accademia della Crusca and the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities.
Fast facts
- Born: 1800, Lyon
- Died: 1864, Pau
- Citizenship: France
- Académie française seat: 37
- Key work: L'Histoire romaine à Rome
- Burial site: Montmartre Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Jean-Jacques Ampère teach?
He taught at the Sorbonne and held a professorship in the history of French literature at the Collège de France.
Which international societies admitted Ampère as a member?
He held memberships in the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, the Accademia della Crusca, the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities, and the Academy of Sciences of Turin.
