Distinguished Ancestor, part 3

In 1848, friends of Ambrose persuaded him to run for the Constituent Assembly. He lost the election. However, as an advocate for democracy and the common man, he found himself the political enemy of Emperor Napoleon III. In 1851, Ambrose, along with 9,500 other democratic sympathizers were arrested and exiled to Algeria in North Africa.

Ambrose and his good friend Joseph Haber were employed by the local government to survey and plan the layout of the city of Algiers, the capitol of Algeria. After two years, he was allowed to return to Troyes.

In 1858, there was an assignation attempt on the Emperor. Ambrose, among others, was falsely accused and exiled again to Algeria. After two years, amnesty permitted him to return home.

While working as the Assistant Curator of the Museum of Troyes, he was felled by a stroke in 1876. He remained bedridden until his death in 1880.

On some of our trips to France, we found several copies of articles, poems, and pamphlets he had written. These provided insight into why he was so honored by the citizens of his hometown.

Wilma Gundy

Sculpture of Ambrose Napoleon Cottet in Troyes museum