Born on December 20th 1926 in Uzès (Gard). Died on May 28th 2014.
Education and professional career
- 1946-1950: Student at the École normale supérieure Lettres (rue d'Ulm)
- 1950-1952: Associate Professor at the Lycée de Toulon, including one year's leave for military service
- 1952-1954: Associate Professor, Lycée de Marseille (Thiers)
- 1954-1957: Secondment to Cnrs
- 1957-1969: Faculté des lettres d'Aix (all successive grades)
- 1969: Doctor of Letters (Sorbonne)
- 1969-1972: Professor at the University of Provence, Aix-Marseille I
- 1972-1986: Professor, Université Panthéon-Sorbonne Paris I
- 1986-1997: Professor at the Collège de France, chair History of contemporary France
Awards and honors
- 1970: Chevalier des Palmes académiques
- 1989: Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur
- 1994: Officier des Palmes académiques
- 1995: Officier des Arts et Lettres
- 1998: Officier de la Légion d'honneur
- 1993: Member of the Academia Europaea
Works in French history, politics, society, "culturelle", in the 19th and 20th centuries centuries
- Long-time president of the Société d'histoire de la Révolution de 1848.
- A specialist in cooperation with related disciplines, he was for many years vice-president of the Société des études romantiques, the Société d'ethnologie française and the Société d'études jauressiennes.
Various activities
- 1974, 1982: Long-term visits abroad: Princeton University (USA)
- 1967-1970, 1974-1976: Admissions exam juries at rue d'Ulm
- 1978-1986 : Publishing activities: Collection director at Aubier-Montaigne
- 1999-2006: Official mission: Member of the High Committee for National Celebrations
