Biography

Henri-Louis was the fourth son of King Louis-Philippe of France. He was a colonialist, and one of the leaders of the Orleanists, who supported a constitutional monarchy. Orléans began his army career at age 17; he became a lieutenant general in 1847 as well as governor of France’s African possessions. After the Revolution of 1848 he was exiled to England, but returned to France in 1871, serving as an Orleanist deputy. He retired in 1883 and spent the rest of his life as a writer and researcher.