2015 Issue №12

This paper analyses the historiosophical views of François Guizot (1787—1874) based on his works from the period of the First Empire (1804— 1814). The established chronological framework makes it possible to identify the foundations of the great thinker’s historical theory — foundations cleansed of the political influence of the Bourbon Restoration (1814—1830) and the July Monarchy (1830-1848), where Guizot was an activist of the liberal opposition and later became one of the leaders of the French political elite.

The article investigates Edward Stanley’s attempt to establish a centre party in 1834—1835. Based in unpublished sources and recent historical studies, the author identifies the causes of the failure of this project. These causes were both subjective – for instance, the King’s influence and Stanley’s personality – and objective, i.e the well-timed consolidation of the Whigs and the Tories.