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Ludovic Vitet
1802-1873
Historical Figure
He was the very first guardian of France's monuments. On November 25, 1830, Guizot created the position of inspector general of historic monuments for Ludovic Vitet, a founding act in the protection of France's heritage.
A writer and politician, he handed over the role in 1834 to Prosper Mérimée, but remained an influential voice on matters of art and archaeology.
A deputy for Seine-Maritime, a department in Normandy, and a member of the Académie française starting in 1845, he left behind dramatic works such as Les Barricades and La Ligue.
