Entering official service in 1815, he lost office in 1822 and led the liberal opposition to Charles X’s government. Involved in the July Revolution of 1830, he returned to official service and, in 1833, introduced a national system of primary education. For the next 18 years he served Louis Philippe. A moderate monarchist, he succeeded Thiers as leader of the government in 1840. His passive but immovable resistance to change finally led to his downfall in the Revolution of 1848.