Léman (department)


Léman was a department of the French First Republic and French First Empire. Its name came from the French name of Lake Geneva, Lac Léman. It was formed in 1798, when the Republic of Geneva was annexed by the French Republic. Léman also included districts that were previously part of the departments of Mont-Blanc and Ain. Its territory corresponded with the present Swiss canton of Geneva and parts of the present French departments of Ain and Haute-Savoie.
The Chef-lieu of the department was Genève. The department was subdivided into the following three arrondissements and cantons:
After the final defeat of Napoleon in 1815, the former Republic of Geneva became a Swiss canton, and Savoy was returned to the Kingdom of Sardinia. The area around Gex returned to the department of Ain.

Administration

Prefects

The Prefect was the highest state representative in the department.
Term startTerm endOffice holder
2 March 180010 December 1802Ange Marie d'Eymar
10 December 180230 November 1810Claude Ignace Brugière de Barante
30 November 18105 January 1814Guillaume Antoine Benoît Capelle
5 January 1814Not installedLouis Toussaint de La Moussaye

Secretary-General

The Secretary-General was the deputy to the Prefect.
Term startTerm endOffice holder
2 March 1800?? ?? 1802Cornuaud
?? ?? 1803?? ?? 1811Étienne Charles Garnier
?? ?? 181131 December 1813J.J. Councler

Subprefects of Bonneville

Subprefects of Genève

The office of Subprefect of Genève was held by the Prefect until 1811.
Term startTerm endOffice holder
14 January 18117 May 1812Bouthillier de Beaumont
7 May 181231 December 1813Jean Baptiste Bourgeois de Jessaint

Subprefects of Thonon