Gustave Flourens

Who was Gustave Flourens?

Gustave Flourens was a French Revolutionary leader and writer, son of the physiologist Jean Pierre Flourens. He was also the elder brother of Emile Flourens, who became minister of foreign affairs under the Third Republic.

At 25 years old Flourens undertook in 1863, on behalf of his father, a course of lectures at the Collège de France, on the subject of the history of mankind. His theories as to the manifold origin of the human race gave offence to the clergy, and he was prevented from delivering further lectures. He then went to Brussels, where he published his lectures under the title of Histoire de l’homme. Gustave Flourens then visited Constantinople and Athens and took part in the Cretan insurrection of 1866-1868; he was one of those chosen for a difficult mission to Athens on behalf of the Cretan Revolutionary Assembly. He attempted to convince influential people, such as Victor Hugo, to support the Cretan insurrection. Gustave Flourens then spent some time in Italy, where an article of his in the Fe polo d'Italia caused his arrest and imprisonment, and finally, having returned to France, nearly lost his life in a duel with Paul de Cassagnac, editor of the Pays.