Émile Rigaud

(Joseph) Émile Rigaud was born on March 27, 1824 in Pourrières.[1][2] His father, Jean-Joseph Rigaud, was a notary.[1] He had a brother, Constantin Michel Rigaud, and two sisters, Marie Léontine Rigaud and Marie Claire Rigaud.[1]

He started his career as a lawyer. He served as President of the Court of Appeals of Aix in 1862.[1][3]

He attended a salon in Aix started by Polish-born Constantin Gaszinski, the editor of Le Mémorial d'Aix, a bi-weekly newspaper.[3] He decided to embark upon a career in politics and joined the Parti de l'Ordre, an Orleanist and Legitimist conservative political party. He served as the Mayor of Aix-en-Provence from 1849 to 1863.[3] During his tenure, he oversaw the construction of the Gare d'Aix-en-Provence in 1856 and the Fontaine de la Rotonde in 1860.[4] He then served as a member of the National Assembly from 1852 to 1862.[1][2][3]

He resided in a hôtel particulier located at number 16 on the Cours Mirabeau in Aix.[1] In 1858, he also purchased the Château de la Mignarde in Aix-en-Provence from Sauveur Mignard, where he resided until his death.[4][5] In August 1863, he married Rose Ernestine de Roccas.[1] They had a son:

• Paul Rigaud. He ran for Mayor in Trets but lost.[6]

He died on March 19, 1890 in Aix-en-Provence.[2] His descendants still live in the Château de la Mignarde.[4]