Claude Henri Gorceix: the man, teacher and work

Abstract

Once André Malraux said that "as it is impossible to resuscitate the dead, we resuscitate the dreams" and popular wisdom complements: "it is the most beautiful teaching that can be linked to the youth of today and the men of tomorrow". Herein, one of these dreams is relived. It begins 150 years ago with the birth of CLAUDE HENRI GORCEIX in Saint Denis des Murs (Haute Vienne), a small village of only four houses, on October 19, 1842, son of Antoine Gorceix and Valerie Cecile Gorceix. When he was almost 9 years old, his father died and his mother, together with her seven children, went to live in Saint Leonard. At 12 years of age, he obtained a scholarship at the Liceu de Limoges, where he distinguished himself for his active intelligence and devotion to his work. He attributed his successes to his professors for whom he preserved an undisputable remembrance until the end of his life. After receiving his diploma in 1860, his scholarship was transferred to the Liceu de Douai, where a mathematics course prepared him for the Éscole Normale (sciences), the preparation of which was completed at the Instituição Massin in Paris. The following year, he entered the École Normale (Sciences). Here, he demonstrated a passion for Geology and Mineralogy, subjects in which he was said to be not only brilliant, but also very active, forecasting a career as a geologist. He finished the course in 1866 with a "Generalist in physical sciences and mathematics" diploma. Appointed Professor of Physics at the Liceu de Angoulême, he returned to Éscole as aggregated preparer of Geology and afterwards was sent to Athens as a science professor at the famous L'École française d'Anthènes.