Joseph Cabassol

Joseph Marie Victor Cabassol was born on 21 January 1859 in Aix-en-Provence.[1] His father, Joseph Philippe Cabassol (1828-1855), was a banker who co-founded a small bank with Louis-Auguste Cézanne (1798–1886), the father of renowned painter Paul Cézanne (1839-1906), called the Cézanne and Cabassol Bank, in 1848, until it failed.[2] His mother was Euphrosine Caroline Rose (1833-1855).[1] He was educated in a Catholic school in Aix, and studied the Law at the University of Aix-en-Provence.[1] He received his Doctorate in Law in 1885.[1] He spoke both French and Provençal.[1]

He started his career as a lawyer in 1880.[1] He served as bâtonnier from 1903 to 1905.[1] He was elected as President of the Court of Appeals of Aix on 12 June 1917 and as its First President on 18 April 1927.[1] In 1919, he served as President of the Société des Amis des Arts, a Freemason order in Aix.[1] Later, he joined the Board of Directors of the local Caisse d'Épargne.[1]

He decided to embark upon a career in politics and joined the Republican Union. He was elected to the General Council of Aix-Sud from 1898 to 1916, serving as its President in 1914.[1] He served as the Mayor of Aix-en-Provence from 1902 to 1908.[1] Under his tenure, he opened the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle Aix-en-Provence, which had been conceived by Antoine Aude (1799-1870), when he served as Mayor in 1835.[1] (It was then located on the Boulevard du Roi René, and it is now housed within the Hôtel Boyer d'Éguilles, a listed hôtel particulier located at 5 rue Espariat.) Moreover, he rejected the proposed move of Aix-Marseille University to Marseille, making sure that it would remain in Aix.[1]

He received the Knighthood of the Legion of Honour for his public service.[1]

He wrote a book of poems, Solitude, and a play, La dernière marquise.[1] Additionally, he published articles in the Gazette du palais and the Répertoire encyclopédique.[3]

In 1886, he married Gabrielle Rose, an extended cousin.[1] They had three children:

• Jean Joseph Louis Marie Cabassol (1887-1916).[1] He died while serving in the First World War.[1]
• Simone Cabassol (1989-1976).[1]
• Gabriel Cabassol (1901-1978).[1]

Cabassol died on 25 May 1928 in Aix-en-Provence.[1] The Rue Joseph Cabassol in the Quartier Mazarin in Aix-en-Provence is named in his honour.[1] The Hôtel de Caumont, a listed hôtel particulier, is on this street.

• Compte rendu de l’inauguration du buste de Zola (1906)
• Eloge pour sa réception à l’Académie du Dr Philippe Aude (1913)
• Le Parlement d’Aix, défenseur des droits et des traditions de la Provence (1919)
• Charles Giraud, (juriste) sa vie, ses œuvres (1924)

• Solitude (1885)

• La dernière marquise (1923)