Denis Auguste Affre

Prelate, born in St Rome-de-Tarn, S France. He succeeded Archbishop Quéten as Archbishop of Paris (1840–8) and established the École des Carmes (1845), which later became the Institut Catholique de Paris (1875). He was shot by a stray bullet while on the barricades in the Faubourg St Antoine during the insurrection of 1848, and died of his injuries. His works include Introduction philosophique à l'étude du Christianisme.

Denis-Auguste Affre (27 September 1793–27 June 1848), archbishop of Paris, was born at St Rome, in the department of Tarn.

He was educated for the priesthood at Saint-Sulpice, where in 1818 he became professor of dogmatic theology. During the insurrection of June 1848 the archbishop was led to believe that by his personal interference peace might be restored between the soldiery and the insurgents. He had spoken only a few words, however, when the insurgents, hearing some shots, and fancying they were betrayed, opened fire upon the national guard, and the archbishop fell, struck by a stray bullet.

Next day the National Assembly issued a decree expressing their great sorrow on account of his death;

The archbishop wrote several treatises of considerable value, including an Essai sur les hieroglyphes egyptiens (Paris, 1834), in which he showed that Champollion's system was insufficient to explain the hieroglyphics.