Émile Rigaud (27 March 1824 – 19 March 1890) was a French lawyer and politician. He served as the Mayor of Aix-en-Provence from 1849 to 1863 and as a member of the National Assembly from 1852 to 1862.
Biography
Early life (Joseph) Émile Rigaud was born on 27 March 1824 in Pourrières.Pourrières: HistoryNational Assembly His father, Jean-Joseph Rigaud, was a notary. He had a brother, Constantin Michel Rigaud, and two sisters, Marie Léontine Rigaud and Marie Claire Rigaud.
Career He started his career as a lawyer. He served as President of the Court of Appeals of Aix in 1862.Hommes, idées, journaux: mélanges en l'honneur de Pierre Guiral, Paris: Publications de la Sorbonne, 1988, p. 328
He attended a salon in Aix started by Polish-born Constantin Gaszinski, the editor of Le Mémorial d'Aix, a bi-weekly newspaper. He decided to embark upon a career in politics and joined the Parti de l'Ordre, an Orleanist and Legitimist conservative political party. He served as the mayor of Aix-en-Provence from 1849 to 1863. During his tenure, he oversaw the construction of the Gare d'Aix-en-Provence in 1856 and the Fontaine de la Rotonde in 1860.Dannery Letizia, Les Sechiari, L'Express, 14/11/2002 He then served as a member of the National Assembly from 1852 to 1862.
Personal life He resided in a hôtel particulier located at number 16 on the Cours Mirabeau in Aix. In 1858, he also purchased the Château de la Mignarde in Aix-en-Provence from Sauveur Mignard, where he resided until his death.M. Constantin, 'Les Pinchinats' in Les paroisses du diocèse d'Aix: leurs souvenirs et leurs monuments, Aix-en-Provence: Imprimerie Makaire, 1890-1898, Volume 1, p. 318-320 In August 1863, he married Rose Ernestine de Roccas. They had a son: Paul Rigaud. He ran for Mayor in Trets but lost.Provence Historique, Archives départementales, 1971, Issues 83-86, p. 183
He died on 19 March 1890 in Aix-en-Provence. His descendants still live in the Château de la Mignarde.
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