author
René Pocard du Cosquer de Kerviler
1842–1907
An engineer by training and a historian at heart, he devoted much of his life to documenting Brittany’s past in remarkable detail. He is best remembered for a vast, unfinished biobibliographical repertory that became a major reference for Breton history and literature.
1 Audiobook
J. Ogier de Gombauld, 1570-1666 étude biographique et littéraire sur sa vie et ses ouvrages
by René Pocard du Cosquer de Kerviler
About the author
Born in Vannes on November 13, 1842, and later known as René Kerviler, he studied at the École Polytechnique and the École des Ponts et Chaussées before building a career as a civil engineer. His postings included Tarbes, Saint-Brieuc, and Saint-Nazaire, where his technical work went hand in hand with a growing passion for history, archaeology, and regional scholarship.
Alongside his engineering career, he became an energetic researcher of Brittany’s intellectual and cultural heritage. He wrote on local history and archaeology and is especially associated with the monumental Répertoire général de bio-bibliographie bretonne, an ambitious reference work that remained unfinished but earned lasting importance for anyone studying Breton authors, scholars, and historical figures.
He died in Lorient on May 12, 1907. Remembered as both a man of public works and a tireless bibliographer, he left behind the image of a scholar deeply committed to preserving the memory of Brittany and its people.