Royer-Collard, Pierre Paul

Royer-Collard, Pierre Paul (pyĕr pōl rwäyā`-kô-lär`), 1763–1845, French statesman and philosopher. After entering the law, he took part in the French Revolution and became a constitutional monarchist. During the Consulate he devoted himself entirely to philosophy, and from 1811 to 1814 he lectured at the Sorbonne. Becoming active in government after the Bourbon restoration, he sat in the chamber of deputies almost continuously from 1815 to 1839. From 1815 to 1820 he was president of the commission for public instruction. Royer-Collard was a leader of the Doctrinaires, a middle-of-the-road group that included François Guizot, Camille Jordan, Charles de Rémusat, and the duc de Broglie. In philosophy he opposed the sensationalism of Étienne Bunnot de Condillac and helped to introduce the ideas of Thomas Reid into France.