How to Pronounce Alexandre Ledru-Rollin

Meaning and Context

Alexandre Auguste Ledru-Rollin (1807-1874) was a pivotal French lawyer and radical republican politician whose career was defined by his passionate advocacy for universal male suffrage and democratic socialism during the volatile period of the July Monarchy and its aftermath. A key figure in the 1848 Revolution, he served as a member of the provisional government and was instrumental in the establishment of the French Second Republic, leveraging his position as Minister of the Interior to oversee the critical elections of April 1848. His political journey, however, reached a turning point with the June Days uprising, after which his influence waned, leading to his exile following Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte's coup d'état in 1851. As a prominent voice of the Montagnards and the far-left opposition, Ledru-Rollin's legacy is that of a committed democrat whose ideals often clashed with the more moderate and conservative forces shaping modern French political history.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The standard and correct spelling is Alexandre Ledru-Rollin. A frequent point of confusion arises from the hyphen in his compound surname, which is often omitted or misplaced, leading to common misspellings such as "Ledru Rollin" (missing hyphen), "LedruRollin" (run together), or "Ledru-Rolin" (missing an 'l'). Occasionally, his first name is anglicized to "Alexander," though the French "Alexandre" is universally used in historical texts. Researchers should also be aware that his full name includes the middle name "Auguste," so references to "Alexandre Auguste Ledru-Rollin" are equally accurate. When searching, it is advisable to try both hyphenated and non-hyphenated versions to ensure comprehensive results.

Example Sentences

As Minister of the Interior in 1848, Alexandre Ledru-Rollin faced the immense challenge of organizing the first elections based on universal male suffrage in French history.

Historians often debate whether Ledru-Rollin's radicalism ultimately alienated the moderate support necessary to sustain the Second Republic.

In his famous warning about the rise of Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, Ledru-Rollin is often quoted for his prescient but unheeded political foresight.

Following the coup of 1851, Alexandre Ledru-Rollin spent nearly two decades in political exile in England before returning to France.

Modern studies of the 1848 Revolution consistently highlight Ledru-Rollin's role as a bridge between parliamentary republicanism and more nascent socialist movements.

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