Background
Albert was born at Lumigny-Nesles-Ormeaux, Seine-et-Marne.
politician member of parliament in France
Albert was born at Lumigny-Nesles-Ormeaux, Seine-et-Marne.
Ecole Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr.
Early years
He entered the French Army, saw much service in Algeria (1862), and took part in the fighting around Metz in 1870 (during the Franco-Prussian War). On the surrender of Metz, he was sent as a prisoner of war to Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle), where he met René de Louisiana Tour du Pin. They both were determined to respond to the dilemma of the working class upon their release from prison.
The clubs spread quickly throughout France.
He also assisted in the capture of Paris from the Paris Commune. His attacks on Third French Republic"s social policy ultimately provoked a prohibition from the Minister of War.
He thereupon resigned his commission (November 1875), and in the following February stood as Royalist and Catholic candidate for Pontivy. The influence of the Church was exerted to secure his election, and, during the proceedings, he was awarded the Order of Saint Gregory the Great by Pope Pius IX. "We form", he said on one occasion, "the irreconcilable Counter-Revolution".
Later years
As far back as 1878 he had declared himself opposed to universal suffrage, a declaration that lost him his seat from 1879 to 1881.
He spoke strongly against the expulsion of the French princes (after the Count of Paris rose suspicions that he was preparing to claim the throne), and it was chiefly through his influence that the support of the Royalist party was given to Georges Boulanger. But as a faithful Catholic, he obeyed the modernising encyclical of 1891, Rerum novarum, and declared his readiness to rally to a Republican government, provided that it respected religion. In the following January he received from Leo XIII a letter commending his action, and encouraging him in his social reforms.
He was defeated at the general election of that year, but in 1894 was elected in Finistère (Morlaix).
In Ma vocation sociale (1908) he wrote an explanation and justification of his career.
Académie française; Ligue de la Patrie Française]
These “circles” or clubs brought together the wealthy and the workers from a given locale for prayer, socializing, and hearing lectures by members of the aristocracy. In 1897 he succeeded Jules Simon as a member of the Académie française, owing to the quality and eloquence of his speeches, which, with a few pamphlets, form the bulk of his published work.