Rogier, Charles-Latour

(1800-1885)

   Born in Saint-Quentin, France, on 17 August 1800, Charles Rogier practiced law in Liège and became an exponent of anti-Dutch grievances. Following the outbreak of the Belgian Revolution in August 1830, he entered Brussels on 7 September at the head of a column of volunteers from Liège. The troops, with contingents from Brussels, fought skirmishes outside the city with the advancing Dutch army. Rogier fled the city on 23 September when Dutch troops entered and invested the Parc de Bruxelles, but he soon returned on news that citizens were fighting the invaders. He helped secure an armistice and was a principal member of the provisional national government. Rogier drafted the decree ordering the burial on the place des Martyrs of those who had fallen in the struggle. A leader of the Liberal Party, he sponsored the bill to create the first railway in continental Europe and served as prime minister from 1847 to 1852 and from 1857 to 1867. Rogier died in Brussels on 21 May 1885. A statue was erected in his honor in 1896 and the place Rogier is named for him.