3-021-564 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The late Alphonse de Lamartine, French poet and statesman, 1869. Engraving from a photograph by Alexandre Martin. De Lamartine's '...earliest recollections, as an infant, were of the Reign of Terror, when his father, as a Royalist, was imprisoned...[He was appointed] Attaché to the French Legation at Florence; next, as Secretary to the Embassy at Naples; and afterwards in London...[His] poetic work, an imitation of Byron, was entitled the "Dernier Chant de Childe Harold." In this poem...he scornfully reproached the Italians with their degenerate state as a nation; and their sensitive patriotism resented his invective...for which he was challenged by the Neapolitan General Pepe. A duel ensued, in which the poet was dangerously wounded...The Eastern question, [and] the abolition of capital punishment...furnished him with subjects on which he spoke with much fluency...he introduced a plan to substitute for the Ottoman Empire - the fall of which he believed to be imminent - a vast European colonisation...He died at home...The funeral was attended by few persons of note...No speeches were made over the grave, but the poor country people, who had a great affection for their illustrious neighbour, crowded around the coffin and kissed it'. From "Illustrated London News", 1869.