Érasme-Louis , baron Surlet de Chokier was born with Gingelom in 1769 and died in Gingelom the August 7th 1839.

It is made baron in 1816. After the revolution of 1830, it is selected to chair the National congress. A little later the king Louis-Philippe refuses to let his son reach the throne of Belgium, which involves the fall of the provisional government. The National congress elects it then regent Kingdom of Belgium, station which it occupies until in 1831 and the accession with the throne of Léopold  I {{er}}.

Its foreign policy was based only on alliance with the France, reason for which it supported the candidature of Louis of Orleans for the throne of Belgium. He was opposed in that to Joseph Lebeau or Paul Devaux. After the refusal of the king of the French, it is unable to determine the policy to follow. It forms a first government which evaporates instantaneously. He calls then upon Etienne de Sauvage to form its second government and this one imposes Joseph Lebeau and his friend Paul Devaux.

It is withdrawn then in its field of Gingelom, where it occupies the function of burgomaster until the end of its life.

It belonged to the linguistic minority, in Flanders, of those which one calls the Fransquillons.