Ernest Lavisse

French historian.

Lavisse was a professor at the Sorbonne from 1888, and he directed the Ecole Normale Supérieure from 1904 to 1919.

He was an eloquent professor and very fond of young people, and played an important part in the revival of higher studies in France after 1871. His learning was displayed in his public lectures and his addresses, in his private lessons, where he taught a small number of pupils the, historical method, and in his books. His works of learning are lucid and vivid.

After the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71, Lavisse devoted particular attention to the study of the history of Germany, primarily Prussia, seeking to discover the explanation of its military and political success

Lavisse was admitted to the Académie française in 1892, and became editor of the Revue de Paris. He is, however, chiefly a master of pedagogy. When the école normale was joined to the university of Paris, Lavisse was appointed director of the new organization, which he had helped more than any one to bring about.

He died 18 August 1922, Paris.