Constant-Philippe Serrure (1805–1872) was a prolific Belgian historian and collector who taught at Ghent University. He was a founding member and active contributor of the Maetschappy der Vlaemsche Bibliophilen, which published editions of medieval Flemish texts.[1]

Life

Serrure was born in Antwerp on 22 September 1805, the son of the diamond merchant Pierre-François Serrure and Jeanne-Pétronille van der Schrieck (1774–1855).[2] After his secondary education he briefly worked as a clerk in the tax administration and then enrolled to study law at the State University of Leuven. He graduated in 1832, after delays caused in part by the Belgian Revolution of 1830 and in part by his own dedication to historical research rather than legal studies.[2] He worked as a lawyer in Antwerp for a few months before being appointed conservator of the State Archives in Ghent in 1833.[2] During his first years there he prepared an edition of the cartulary of Saint Bavo's Abbey.[3] He was involved in reviving the Messager des sciences historiques, publication of which had been suspended since 1830, and was on the city of Ghent's street-naming committee.[2]

On 30 July 1834, he married Mathilde van Damme, daughter of Antoine van Damme and Régine Hautshont.[2] From 1835, he taught courses on Belgian history and medieval history at Ghent University, the former until 1868 and the latter until 1871. He served as dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters from 1850 to 1854 and was made a knight in the Order of Leopold on 24 September 1855.[2] He went on to serve as rector of the university from 1855 to 1857, when he was removed from office by the government due to political frictions.[2]

From 1855 to 1863 he edited five volumes of a literary and historical miscellany under the title Vaderlandsch museum voor Nederduitsche letterkunde, oudheid en geschiedenis.[4]

He became emeritus on 19 August 1871, thereafter living in retirement in Moortsele, where he died on 6 April 1872. When his collections of books, medals, coins, artworks and antiques were auctioned off after his death, the catalogue was printed in 14 volumes.[2]

Publications

Apart from compiling many auction catalogues, and contributing to several journals and periodicals, Serrure published:

Editions for the Maetschappy der Vlaemsche Bibliophilen

References

  1. ^ Ada Deprez. "Serrure, Constant P." NEVB Online. ADVN - archief voor nationale bewegingen.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Adolf De Ceuleneer, "Serrure (Constant-Philippe)", Biographie Nationale de Belgique, vol. 22 (Brussels, 1920), 251-264.
  3. ^ Johann Wilhelm Löbell, Lettres sur la Belgique (Brussels, 1837), pp. 277-278. On Google Books.
  4. ^ Vol. 1, vol. 2, vol. 3, vol. 4, vol. 5 on Google Books.
  5. ^ On Google Books
  6. ^ On Google Books
  7. ^ 1840 edition on Google Books

External links

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