Born in Tournai on 26/05/1790 and died in Brussels on 05/05/1873, he was buried on Thursday 8 May 1873 in the Court-Saint-Étienne cemetery. His funeral was held at the Saints-Michel-et-Gudule cathedral, Brussels on 20 May 1873 and theSaint-Étienne church in Court-Saint-Étienne on 21 May 1873. Albert Goblet's mortal remains were moved fourteen years after his death to the crypt of the mausoleum designed by Eugène Goblet, his grandson, and built between 1885 and 1887 at the Court-Saint-Étienne cemetery. Son of GOBLET François Magloire Joseph, magistrate and member of the town council, and Michelle DELMARLE Marie. On 14 January 1814, he married Marie Anne Adélaïde DAMIEN (x - 1863). The couple had at least one son, Louis François Magloire (1823-1867), and the grandfather of theULB and politician GOBLET d'ALVIELLA Eugène (1846-1925).
Biography :
In 1802 he entered the Prytanée militaire de Saint-Cyr, a military teaching school, and in 1807 he won the imperial prize for mathematics in the general competitive examination. He then went on to the polytechnic school, graduating in 1811 as an engineering officer in the service of France. As the only remaining engineer officer, he was chosen to take details of the siege and capitulation to Paris, was appointed captain and awarded the Cross of Honour. Returning to the service of his country in February 1815, he fought at Quatre-Bras and Waterloo, and was awarded the Order of William (4th class). Thanks to his background, he was commissioned to design and build the fortress of Nieuport. He supervised the work for seven years, was appointed 3rd class knight (officer) of the Order of William, and accompanied the Prince of Orange to Russia. Alexander decorated him with the Cross of St Anne. On his return, he was in charge of rebuilding the Menin fortress. Appointed colonel of the engineers and director general of this corps on 15 October 1830, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in 1831, and served as minister of war under the Regent. In August 1831, the city of Tournai sent him to the House of Representatives, and a few days later he was appointed Inspector General of Fortifications and Engineering. On 14 December 1831, General Goblet signed a treaty in London with the ministers of Austria, England, Prussia and Russia, agreeing to the demolition of Menin, Ath, Mons, Philippeville and Marienbourg. As a Member of Parliament, he voted for the adoption of the 24 articles. He was successively Plenipotentiary to the London Conference, Minister of State, Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, Commander of the Legion of Honour and Knight of the Order of Leopold, Ambassador to Berlin, etc. His work on the general system of defence on the northern frontier, from the Scheldt to the Meuse, earned him the rank of lieutenant-general in 1835. Elected deputy in 1836 by the city of Brussels, he gave up his legislative functions to go to Portugal as minister plenipotentiary. He was appointed Count of ALVIELLA, and the King of the Belgians, in ratifying this appointment, made the title hereditary to all his male descendants. In 1850, he made a number of purchases to extend the estate adjoining the Château de Court-Saint-Étienne, which he had obtained in 1844 through the marriage of his son Louis to the Countess of Court-Saint-Étienne. d'AUXY de Neuville, (family d'AUXY). His bust can be found in Court-Saint-Etienne.
Photo credit :
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Goblet_d%27Alviella#/media/Fichier:Albert_Goblet.png
