Abstract

Guizot (1787-1874) was a French historian, orator and statesman who was a dominant figure in French politics prior to the Revolution of 1848. A conservative liberal who opposed the attempt by Charles X to usurp legislative power, he worked to sustain a constitutional monarchy following the July Revolution of 1830. He then served the 'citizen king' Louis Philippe as Minister of Education from 1832-37, ambassador to London, Foreign Minister from 1840-47, and finally Prime Minister between 1847-48. Committed to supporting the policies of Louis Philippe and to limiting the expansion of the political franchise, he became unpopular with more left-leaning liberals and it was his ban on political meetings by moderate liberals who wanted to extend the franchise that was the catalyst to the revolution that toppled Louis Philippe in February 1848, leading to the establishment of the Second Empire. A prolific writer on various subjects, these Meditations on Christianity were first published in 1864.