Berryer, Pierre-Antoine

(1790-1868)

   advocate, political figure

   Born in Paris, Pierre Antoine-Berryer was the son of an eminent advocate and adviser to the parlement. He was educated at the Collège de Juilly and, like his father, was an ardent legitimist. After the Restoration, he was an outspoken advocate of moderation in the treatment of various military figures, and is famous for his eloquent defenses during the trials of michel ney, pierre cambronne, FÉLICITÉ LAMENNAIS, FRANÇOIS CHATEAUBRIAND, and Louis-Napoléon (later napoléon III) (after the attempted uprising in Boulogne). Berryer was elected a deputy in 1830 and became involved in the legitimist intrigues of the duchess of Berry to restore her family to the throne. He was tried but acquitted, and was later (1841) elected to the National Assembly. He was also later a member of the imperial legislature (1868), although he had opposed both the coup d'état of December 2 and the second empire. His writings include Discours parlementaires (1872-74) and Plaidoyers (1875-78). Berryer was elected to the Académie Française in 1854.