Note 569 — BOOK XII[500]

Antoine Philippe Fiacre Ghislain Visscher, Comte de Celles (1779-1841), a native of Brussels, took sides with the French at the annexation of his country in 1795, became a town councillor of Brussels in 1800, fought for the French at Austerlitz, was made Prefect of the Loire Inférieure in 1806, a count in 1811, and Prefect of the Zuyder Zee in 1811. From 1811 to 1813, he oppressed the Dutch in Napoleon's name. After the formation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Celles withdrew from public life until 1821, when he was elected to the Second Chamber of the States-General. He was appointed Ambassador to Rome in 1826, and held that post until 1829. He supported the Belgian Revolution of 1830; but, in 1832, removed to Paris, where he took out letters of naturalization.—T.