One of the most famous scientists of the early nineteenth century, a geographer, explorer and astronomer.

Ambassador to Paris for many years, he used to lunch at the Café Procope, and became friends with François Arago. In later years he also frequented the salon (fashionable with emigrées in Paris) of Adolphe and Madame Circourt, and he died in 1859 aged 90.

According to Prosper Merimée's letters, he was a friend of Goldschmidt.