Charles Seignobos

Born in Lamastre in 1854, Charles Seignobos grew up in a Protestant, republican family and went on to study at the École Normale Supérieure. He later taught at Dijon and at the University of Paris, becoming one of the best-known French historians of his time.

Seignobos is especially remembered for championing careful source criticism and a methodical approach to historical research. He wrote widely on French and European history, and works such as Histoire politique de l'Europe contemporaine and the co-authored Introduction aux études historiques helped define how history was taught and studied for many years.

He was also engaged in public life beyond the classroom, supporting Alfred Dreyfus and taking part in causes linked to human rights and peace. He died in 1942, leaving behind a reputation for clarity, precision, and a strong belief that history should rest on evidence.