Jean-Jacques Renouard de Villayer

Jean-Jacques Renouard de Villayer (1607 - 1691) was the senior of the advisers of State under the Ancien Mode. He was elected with the French Academy in 1659 to replace Abel Servien.

Biography

In 1650, the written communication between the Paris iens was impossible, in spite of the few post offices which functioned already in the Capitale. Member of the Council of State, Renouard de Villayer solved the problem by creating the small post office and especially, by inventing the Boîte-aux-lettres, which it installed in the principal streets of Paris. The number of these mural boxes in the Ville did not cease thereafter growing, before extending on the majority from the French cities. Six years after this invention, it entered to the French Academy, and died the March 5th 1691, without leaving a great memory of it, although there remains the only academician Nantes of the history.

Quotations in this connection

One did not see anything of him in writing which can make judge extent of its spirit and force or weakness of its style. (Chaplain)

I see by the registers of the Academy, that it marked to him much zeal in the sad business of Furetière. It is the only place by where it is known for me. (of Olivet)

External bonds

Biography on the site of the French Academy
Anecdotes on its invention

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