2-982-314 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Late Alexis Soyer, 1858. French chef. 'M. Soyer...was apprenticed to Douix, the celebrated chef de cuisine who "reigned" in the time of Charles X. Having served his time, on the invitation of his brother, cook to the late Duke of Cambridge, he came to England in the year 1831, and has since taken up his abode in this country, eventually arriving at a position as second to none in his difficult art. His endeavours to ameliorate the condition of the starving Irish during the time of the famine in that country were highly successful; but poor Soyer only got naked thanks; indeed, he was out of pocket by the transaction. His next public essay was his visit to the Crimea, where, as is well known, he effected an immense amount of good in improving the dietary of the army. M. Soyer, at the time of his death, was busily engaged in improving the dietary of military hospitals, Government emigrants, and the army. There can be no doubt that the seeds of his malady were sown in the Crimea, as ever since he has been ailing, and an overtaxed mind has thus prematurely brought to the grave a man whom the world could ill afford to lose'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858.