15 Facts About Robert Lacour-Gayet

Robert Lacour-Gayet was a French banking official, historian, author, and educator who taught in the United States after World War II.

Robert Lacour-Gayet's father, Georges Lacour-Gayet, was a historian who published a famous biography of Talleyrand.

Robert Lacour-Gayet's brother, Jacques Lacour-Gayet, was an economic historian with whom he frequently collaborated.

Robert Lacour-Gayet served as an artillery officer during World War I, for which he received the Croix de Guerre.

Robert Lacour-Gayet studied at the Lycee Louis-le-Grand, l'Ecole des sciences Politiques, and the University of Paris, from which he held both a Master's and Doctorate in Law, as well as a Doctorate in Economic Science.

Robert Lacour-Gayet then became Director of the Economic Department for the Bank of France in 1930, before being named Chief of the Office of Inspectors General of Finance in 1939, a position he held until 1945.

Robert Lacour-Gayet was given the title of Inspecteur general honoraire des Finances.

Robert Lacour-Gayet began his teaching career in the United States in 1945 as a Lecturer in Administrative Law at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

Robert Lacour-Gayet began teaching at St John's University in 1946, and was appointed Associate Professor and Chairman of the Department of History and Government in 1950.

Robert Lacour-Gayet was promoted to Professor in 1954, and remained at St John's until 1957, when he became Professor Emeritus.

Robert Lacour-Gayet frequently taught evening classes at New York University, and during Summers at the Universite Laval.

Robert Lacour-Gayet became president of the Societe des Professeurs Francais en Amerique in 1953.

Robert Lacour-Gayet returned to Paris in 1957 to teach American history and literature at the Catholic Institute of Paris.

Robert Lacour-Gayet was honored in 1966 with the Homme de Lettres from la federation des Alliances Francaises aux Etats-Unis.

Robert Lacour-Gayet was the author, co-author, or editor of nineteen books, ranging from economic histories of France to popular histories of Canada, South Africa, Australia, and the United States.