Henri Charles Monod (1843-1911)

Henri Monod was born in Paris in 1843, the son of a Protestant pastor. In 1875, in the wake of the Franco-Prussian War, he prepared a report on the work of the Protestant Committee for sick and wounded soldiers (Comité évangelique auxiliaire de secours pour les soldats blessés ou malades). He served as prefect for the French départements of Finistère and Calvados and became known for his interest in public health and welfare, publishing several books on related subjects. He argued vigorously for reform and modernisation in these areas and in 1887 was appointed as head of the recently established Direction d’Assistance publique (Directorate of Public Welfare) within the French Interior Ministry. He retained this post for 18 years and was therefore one of the key figures in determining national welfare policy, especially as he also served as a member of the Conseil Supérieur de l’Assistance publique (Higher Council for Public Welfare).

In 1892 Monod was elected a member of the Academie de Medecine. He died at Paris in 1911.