Félix Alcan

Who was Félix Alcan?

Felix Mardochée Alcan was a French Jewish publisher and scholar; born at Metz, March 18, 1841; grandson of Gerson Lévy, author of Orgue et Pioutim, and son of Moyse Alcan, a well-known publisher at Metz.

Having finished his studies at the lyceum of his native city, he entered the École Normale Supérieure of Paris in 1862. When he left it in 1865 he became a lecturer on mathematics till 1869, when he undertook the management of his father's publishing business at Metz. In 1872 he went to Paris, where in the following year he entered the old publishing-house of Germer-Baillière, of which he became the head in 1883. In 1880 he originated a series of school-books for use in the lyceums; this series embraced works on science, history, and philosophy. The publications of his firm include the most considerable works on philosophic subjects published in France. In 1895 he was created knight of the Legion of Honor. He was a member of the Central Committee of the Alliance Israélite Universelle. Alcan died in Paris on February 18, 1925.