Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 3).djvu/171

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PORTRAITS OF CELEBRITIES.
171

VICTOR HENRI DE ROCHEFORT-LUÇAY.

Born 1831.

Age 28.
From a Photograph.
Age 60.
From a Photo. by Walery.
Age 37.
From a Photo. by Carjat.


V ICTOR HENRI DE ROCHEFORT-LUÇAY, known under the name of Henri Rochefort, is a celebrated French writer and politician, born in Paris, July 30, 1831. He is descended from an old and distinguished family, one of his ancestors having been Chancellor of France. M. Rochefort at an early period adopted the profession of journalist, to which he has adhered through his stormy and chequered career. After writing for various publications, and manifesting a determined and indomitable spirit of independence, M. Rochefort founded, on his own account, the famous weekly pamphlet called La Lanterne, the first issue of which appeared June 1, 1868, and produced a tremendous sensation in France. The writer was speedily compelled to leave France to avoid the imprisonment to which he was sentenced by the tribunals of the Empire. Since the fall of Napoleon III. and the establishment of the Republic in France, M. Rochefort's career has been one of continual agitation. Implicated in the events of the Paris Commune, he was condemned to transportation to the French penal colony of New Caledonia, whence he made his escape ten months afterwards, in March, 1874, on board an English barque, which landed him safely in Australia, whence he made his way to London. Subsequently armisticed, he returned to Paris in 1880, where he founded L'Intransigeant the same year. Again obliged to take refuge abroad after the Boulangist trials of 1889, M. Rochefort returned to London, where he has since continued to reside.