Gaspard de Chabrol

Who was Gaspard de Chabrol?

Comte Gilbert Joseph Gaspard de Chabrol de Volvic was a French official. Graduating from the École Polytechnique with the class that had entered in 1794, Chabrol was designated ingénieur des ponts et chaussées but immediately was sent to Egypt.

He was named prefect of the Seine by Napoleon in 1812, an office he held until 1833. He is to be credited with paving several of Paris's streets and boulevards, the creation of pavements, and the gradual conversion of city lighting to gaslight. He also created and financed the école d'architecture et de sculpture de Volvic.

Between 1820 and 1821 he created two adult education courses in Paris, directed by Monsieur Delahaye.

He is commemorated in the rue de Chabrol, opened in 1822 between rue La Fayette and boulevard de Magenta, and to the cité de Chabrol which links cour de la Ferme-Saint-Lazare to rue de Chabrol.

He is credited with originating the phrase "Hundred Days" - les cent jours, in his speech welcoming the returning Louis XVIII.