Lot-et-Garonne - Lot 81

Lot-et-Garonne CHAUDRUC de CRAZANNES (Jean César Marie Alexandre) baron Historical and biographical note on Monsieur de Saint-Amans. Agen, Noubel, 1832 (Followed by) JOUANNET (F.): Éloge de M. Jean-Florimond Boudon de St Amans. Recueil académique année 1832. In-8: VIII, 68pp. - 22pp. ; frontispiece portrait by Honoré de SAINT-AMANS lithographed by NOUBEL. Spots of spotting. Contemporary ½ black chagrin, gilt title throughout on smooth spine, red edges. A good copy. Rare. This monograph was sold "for the benefit of the subscription for the Saint-Amans monument". Baron Chaudruc published numerous works on the archaeology and monuments of the Lot-et-Garonne region, including in 1807 a "Voyage de Sorèze à Auch" containing Pyrenean fragments. Jean Florimond Boudon de Saint-Amans was born in Agen on June 24, 1748 to a family of the old nobility of Agen whose name had been known since the 15th century. Destined for the military, at the age of 18 he joined a regiment attached to the French Navy, and made several trips to the West Indies. He soon left the military and moved back to Agen with his wife. Passionate about natural history and botany, he was also keen on history and archaeology, and together with a few friends (de Laville (de Lacépède), de Lafon du Cujula, de Vigué, de Cessac de Lacuée, Lamouroux, Abbés Carrière and Pagane) created a learned society: the Société des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts d'Agen. Involved in public life in Agen, he was consul of Agen in 1779 and 1783, king's commissioner in 1791 for the formation of the Lot-et-Garonne department, then president of the department's administration. When the department was created in 1800, he was elected President of the General Council of Lot-et-Garonne, a position he held until his death. A botany teacher, he also created a plant garden in Agen. He was also commissioned to draw up an inventory of the department's ancient and medieval monuments, and began writing an "Essay on the antiquities of the Lot-et-Garonne department". He also took part in drawing up the Statistique du Département de Lot-et-Garonne and wrote a Cryptographie agenaise.