The University of Medicine of Paris under the Empire (1808)

On 8th August 1793, the Convention voted the closure of all the Academies and learned societies. Antoine François Fourcroy (1755-1809), who was mainly responsible of this measure, was a politically aware doctor trained by the anatomist Vicq d’Azir (1748-1794) and the founding father of comparative anatomy. Later, on December 4th, Fourcroy successfully managed to get another bill passed by the Convention. It aimed at establishing schools of public health in Paris, Strasbourg and Montpellier. Fourcroy immediately launched the building of these three schools with the help of adjoining hospitals. He was the one who had thought and imagined the university hospital teaching that we know today. The school of public health in Paris which had gradually extended its influence over the others, became the University of Medicine following the enactment of 10th May 1806 established by the Imperial University, which was adopted by the Council of State on 5th March 1808 and organised by the decree number 3 179 on 17th March 1808. Napoleon made Fourcroy write the text of the decree 23 times.