author
André Pons de l'Hérault
1772–1853
Drawn into the storms of the French Revolution while still very young, he went on to lead an unusually varied life as a naval officer, administrator, memoirist, and close observer of Napoleon’s exile on Elba. His writings are prized for the firsthand energy they bring to a turbulent age.
1 Audiobook
Souvenirs et anecdotes de l'île d'Elbe
by André Pons de l'Hérault
About the author
Born in Sète on June 11, 1772, André Pons de l’Hérault was originally intended for the priesthood, but he went to sea as a boy and quickly threw himself into the revolutionary world unfolding around him. Sources describe him as a committed revolutionary who served in the navy and army, and later moved into public administration.
He is especially remembered for his connection with Napoleon during the emperor’s exile on the island of Elba. Pons de l’Hérault later wrote about that period, and the historical record preserved by the Bibliothèque nationale de France and other French reference sources shows that his works helped shape the memory of Napoleon’s Elba years.
Pons de l’Hérault also held senior administrative posts, including service as prefect of the Rhône in 1815 and prefect of the Jura in 1830–1831. He died in Paris on March 3, 1853, leaving behind the image of a restless, many-sided figure whose life touched revolution, war, government, and historical writing.