François Élie Roudaire

François Élie Roudaire , born the August 6th 1836 with Guéret and deceased the December 14th 1885 with Guéret, is an officer and geographer French. He is the promoter of the project of Inland sea (African or Saharan) to which Ferdinand de Lesseps attached his reputation.

Biography

Resulting from a family of the Middle-class provincial range with the novel ideas and sciences (his/her father François Joseph directed the museum of natural history of Guéret), Roudaire, after traditional studies in its birthplace, leaves Sous-lieutenant Saint-Cyr military school (October 1st 1855) then lieutenant of the École of application (January 13rd 1858). It is directed then towards a scientific career within the army. Affected to the Deposit of the war in the capacity as officer geodesist, the March 28th 1862, it is sent in Algérie, where it arrives the April 10th 1864, to chart the colony by the means of the Géodésie and the Topographie. Operating in the south of Biskra, in the province of Constantine, the officer discovers the area of the Chott S of which it measures the first with precision the depth.

Extremely of results clearly below level zero (until - 40 m), and without knowing the part Tunisia, Roudaire does not acquire the conviction that vast the depression salted which is prolonged until the Golfe of Gabès corresponds to the bed of a known sea drained at the time of Hérodote under the name of bay of Triton . In an article written for the Re-examined of the Two Worlds of the May 15th 1874, “an inland sea in Algeria”, the officer consolidates his assumption and proposes to bring back the sea by a channel dug in the threshold of Gabès. Inter alia benefits, the introduced water mass would modify the local Climat notably and would make it possible to remake area a “attic with corn”. Ferdinand de Lesseps, which has just triumphed with Suez, adopts the idea. Several writers, scientists and politicians engage at its sides.

In general enthusiasm, the government charges Roudaire with a series of reconnaissance missions and levelling. February 1st 1874, it carries out a first mission, at the beginning of Biskra, Chott Melhrir (Algeria). March 1st 1876 and November 27th 1878, it leaves Gabès for chotts el-Gharsa and el-Jérid (Tunisia) he arises that the depression discontinuous, is cut in several places of “thresholds”, and, more serious, that the Chott el-Jérid is entirely above the sea level (+ 15 m). The reduction of easily flooded surface (between 6 and 8000 km ²) and the cost of a 240 kilometers long channel discourage the government which took the councils of a higher commission known as of the inland sea (joined together with Paris of the May 5th to the July 7th 1882). The July 28th, the public Minister for Labor is declared unfavourable with the project of inland sea. Folding back itself on private initiative, Roudaire and Ferdinand de Lesseps found, in December 1882, the Survey firm of the African inland sea. On the budget of the company, but detached by the ministry, the officer directs a fourth mission at the beginning of Tozeur as of the January 22nd 1883. In the return, seriously blamed by the scientific circle and disputed by its hierarchy, Roudaire dies of exhaustion on December 14th, 1885 with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Its republican engagement and fourierist had attracted tough enmities to him. As for the Survey firm of the African inland sea, after being itself reconverted into the exploitation of an agricultural colony close to Gabès, it disappears in 1892.

Decorations

Medal of first class given by the international geographical Congress for its exploration of the chotts (August 11th 1875)
Rank of officer of the Legion of honor (October 6th 1875)
Rank of officer of the state education (August 28th 1876)
Gold medal of the Company of geography (March 1877)
Large medal of honor of the Company of topography for its work of levelling (March 1877)

Publications

First report/ratio on the mission of the chotts published by the state education (January 1877)
Second report/ratio on the missions of the chotts published by the state education (January 1881)
African inland sea (September 1883)

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