List of members of the Académie française

This is a list of members of the Académie française (French Academy) by seat number. The primary professions of the academicians are noted. The dates shown indicate the terms of the members, who generally serve for life. Some, however, were "excluded" during the reorganisations of 1803 and 1816 and at other times.

List of current members

Seat 1

Pierre Séguier, 1635–1643, politician and magistrate

Claude Bazin de Bezons, 1643–1684, lawyer

Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux, 1684–1711, poet

Jean d'Estrées, 1711–1718, ecclesiastic and politician

Marc-René d'Argenson, 1718–1721, politician

Jean-Joseph Languet de Gergy, 1721–1753, ecclesiastic

Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, 1753–1788, essayist

Félix Vicq-d'Azyr, 1788–1794, medical doctor

François-Urbain Domergue, 1803–1810, grammarian

Ange-François Fariau, 1810, poet and translator

François-Auguste Parseval-Grandmaison, 1811–1834, poet

Narcisse-Achille de Salvandy, 1835–1856, politician and historian

Émile Augier, 1857–1889, poet and playwright

Charles de Freycinet, 1890–1923, politician and physicist

Charles Émile Picard, 1924–1941, mathematician

Louis de Broglie, 1944–1987, physicist and mathematician

Michel Debré, 1988–1996, politician

François Furet, 1997, historian

René Rémond, 1998–2007, historian

Claude Dagens, elected 2008, ecclesiastic

Seat 2

Valentin Conrart, 1634–1675, poet and grammarian

Toussaint Rose, 1675–1701, orator

Louis de Sacy, 1701–1727, lawyer

Charles de Secondat, baron de Montesquieu, 1728–1755, magistrate and philosopher

Jean-Baptiste Vivien de Châteaubrun, 1755–1775, poet and playwright

François-Jean de Chastellux, 1775–1788, military officer

Aimar-Charles-Marie de Nicolaï, 1788–1794, magistrate

Nicolas François de Neufchâteau, 1803–1828, politician and philologist

Pierre-Antoine Lebrun, 1828–1873, politician and poet

Alexandre Dumas, fils, 1874–1895, playwright and novelist

André Theuriet, 1896–1907, novelist and poet

Jean Richepin, 1908–1926, poet and novelist

Émile Mâle, 1927–1954, art historian

François Albert-Buisson, 1955–1961, magistrate and politician

Marc Boegner, 1962–1970, ecclesiastic and theologian

René de La Croix de Castries, 1972–1986, historian

André Frossard, 1987–1995, essayist and journalist

Hector Bianciotti, 1996–2012, novelist

Dany Laferrière, elected 2013, writer

Seat 3

Jacques de Serisay, 1634–1653, poet

Paul-Philippe de Chaumont, 1654–1697, ecclesiastic

Louis Cousin, 1697–1707, historian and journalist

Jacques-Louis de Valon, marquis de Mimeure, 1707–1719, poet and translator

Nicolas Gédoyn, 1719–1744, ecclesiastic

François-Joachim de Pierre de Bernis, 1744–1794, ecclesiastic

Roch-Ambroise Cucurron Sicard, 1803–1822, ecclesiastic and grammarian

Denis-Luc Frayssinous, 1822–1841, ecclesiastic

Étienne-Denis Pasquier, 1842–1862, politician

Jules Armand Dufaure, 1863–1881, politician and lawyer

Victor Cherbuliez, 1881–1899, novelist and playwright

Émile Faguet, 1900–1916, literary critic and historian

Georges Clemenceau, 1918–1929, politician and doctor

André Chaumeix, 1930–1955, journalist and critic

Jérôme Carcopino, 1955–1970, historian and archaeologist

Roger Caillois, 1971–1978, essayist and sociologist

Marguerite Yourcenar, 1980–1987, novelist and essayist

Jean-Denis Bredin, 1989–2021, lawyer and essayist

Boualem Sansal, elected 2026, novelist

Seat 4

Jean Desmarets, 1634–1676, poet and novelist

Jean-Jacques de Mesmes, 1676–1688, magistrate

Jean Testu de Mauroy, 1688–1706, ecclesiastic

Camille le Tellier de Louvois, 1706–1718, ecclesiastic

Jean Baptiste Massillon, 1718–1742, ecclesiastic

Louis Jules Mancini Mazarini, Duc de Nivernais, 1742–1798, politician and poet

Gabriel-Marie Legouvé, 1803–1812, poet

Alexandre-Vincent Pineux Duval, 1812–1842, poet and playwright

Pierre-Simon Ballanche, 1842–1847, philosopher

Jean Vatout, 1848, poet

Alexis Guignard, comte de Saint-Priest, 1849–1851, politician and historian

Antoine Pierre Berryer, 1852–1868, lawyer

François-Joseph de Champagny, 1869–1882, historian

Charles de Mazade, 1882–1893, poet and critic

José-Maria de Heredia, 1894–1905, poet

Maurice Barrès, 1906–1923, novelist and politician

Louis Bertrand, 1925–1941, novelist and historian

Jean Tharaud, 1946–1952, novelist

Alphonse Juin, 1952–1967, soldier

Pierre Emmanuel, 1968–1984, poet

Jean Hamburger, 1985–1992, doctor and essayist

Albert Decourtray, 1993–1994, ecclesiastic

Jean-Marie Lustiger, 1995–2007, ecclesiastic

Jean-Luc Marion, elected 2008, philosopher and academic

Seat 5

Jean Ogier de Gombauld, 1634–1666, poet and playwright

Paul Tallement le Jeune, 1666–1712, ecclesiastic

Antoine Danchet, 1712–1748, playwright and poet

Jean-Baptiste-Louis Gresset, 1748–1777, playwright

Claude-François-Xavier Millot, 1777–1785, ecclesiastic

André Morellet, 1785–1819, ecclesiastic

Pierre-Édouard Lémontey, 1819–1826, politician and lawyer

Joseph Fourier, 1826–1830, mathematician and physicist

Victor Cousin, 1830–1867, politician and philosopher

Jules Favre, 1867–1880, politician and lawyer

Edmond Rousse, 1880–1906, lawyer

Pierre de Ségur, 1907–1916, historian

Robert de Flers, 1920–1927, playwright and journalist

Louis Madelin, 1927–1956, historian

Robert Kemp, 1956–1959, literary and dramatic critic

René Huyghe, 1960–1997, art historian and essayist

Georges Vedel, 1998–2002, magistrate

Assia Djebar, 2005–2015, author

Andreï Makine, elected 2016, author

Seat 6

François le Métel de Boisrobert, 1634–1662, ecclesiastic and poet

Jean Regnault de Segrais, 1662–1701, poet and novelist

Jean Galbert de Campistron, 1701–1723, playwright

Philippe Néricault Destouches, 1723–1754, playwright and diplomat

Louis de Boissy, 1754–1758, poet

Jean-Baptiste de La Curne de Sainte-Palaye, 1758–1781, archaeologist

Sébastien-Roch-Nicolas (Chamfort), 1781–1794, playwright and publisher

Pierre Louis Roederer, 1803–1815, politician and lawyer

Pierre Marc Gaston de Lévis, Duke of Lévis, 1816–1830, politician

Philippe Paul, comte de Ségur, 1830–1873, diplomat and historian

Charles de Viel-Castel, 1873–1887, diplomat

Edmond Jurien de La Gravière, 1888–1892, admiral

Ernest Lavisse, 1892–1922, historian

Georges de Porto-Riche, 1923–1930, playwright and poet

Pierre Benoît, 1931–1962, novelist

Jean Paulhan, 1963–1968, literary and art critic

Eugène Ionesco, 1970–1994, playwright

Marc Fumaroli, 1995–2020, historian and essayist

Christian Jambet, elected 2024, philosopher

Seat 7

Jean Chapelain, 1634–1674, royal advisor

Isaac de Benserade, 1674–1691, poet and playwright

Étienne Pavillon, 1691–1705, lawyer and poet

Fabio Brulart de Sillery, 1705–1714, ecclesiastic and poet

Henri-Jacques Nompar de Caumont, duc de La Force, 1715–1726, economist

Jean-Baptiste de Mirabaud, 1726–1760, translator

Claude-Henri Watelet, 1760–1786, painter

Michel-Jean Sedaine, 1786–1793, poet and playwright

Jean-François Collin d'Harleville, 1803–1806, playwright and poet

Pierre Daru, 1806–1829, politician and historian

Alphonse de Lamartine, 1829–1869, politician and poet

Émile Ollivier, 1870–1913, politician and lawyer

Henri Bergson, 1914–1941, philosopher

Édouard Le Roy, 1945–1954, philosopher and mathematician

Henri Petiot (Daniel-Rops), 1955–1965, poet and novelist

Pierre-Henri Simon, 1966–1972, literary historian and novelist

André Roussin, 1973–1987, playwright

Jacqueline de Romilly, 1988–2010, philologist and essayist

Jules Hoffmann, elected 2012, biologist

Seat 8

Claude de Malleville, 1634–1647, poet

Jean Ballesdens, 1648–1675, lawyer

Géraud de Cordemoy, 1675–1684, philosopher and historian

Jean-Louis Bergeret, 1684–1694, lawyer

Charles-Irénée Castel de Saint-Pierre, 1694–1743, ecclesiastic

Pierre Louis Maupertuis, 1743–1759, astronomer

Jean-Jacques Lefranc, Marquis de Pompignan, 1759–1784, magistrate and economist

Jean-Sifrein Maury, 1784–1793, ecclesiastic and politician

Michel-Louis-Étienne Regnaud de Saint-Jean d'Angély, 1803–1814, politician and lawyer

Pierre-Simon Laplace, 1816–1827, politician and mathematician

Pierre Paul Royer-Collard, 1827–1845, politician

Charles de Rémusat, 1846–1875, politician and philosopher

Jules Simon, 1875–1896, politician and philosopher

Adrien Albert Marie de Mun, 1897–1914, politician and soldier

Alfred-Henri-Marie Baudrillart, 1918–1942, ecclesiastic and historian

Octave Aubry, 1946–1946, historian and bureaucrat

Édouard Herriot, 1946–1957, politician and literary historian

Jean Rostand, 1959–1977, biologist and philosopher

Michel Déon, 1978–2016, novelist

Daniel Rondeau, elected 2019, writer and diplomat

Seat 9

Nicolas Faret, 1634–1646, poet

Pierre du Ryer, 1646–1658, playwright

César d'Estrées, 1658–1714, ecclesiastic and politician

Victor-Marie d'Estrées, 1715–1737, politician and soldier

Charles Armand René de La Trémoille, 1738–1741, aristocrat

Armand de Rohan-Soubise, 1741–1756, ecclesiastic

Antoine de Montazet, 1756–1788, ecclesiastic

Stanislas de Boufflers, 1788–1815, poet

Pierre-Marie-François Baour-Lormian, 1815–1854, poet and playwright

François Ponsard, 1855–1867, playwright

Joseph Autran, 1868–1877, poet

Victorien Sardou, 1877–1908, playwright

Marcel Prévost, 1909–1941, novelist

Émile Henriot, 1945–1961, novelist and literary critic

Jean Guéhenno, 1962–1978, essayist

Alain Decaux, 1979–2016, historian

Patrick Grainville, elected 2018, novelist

Seat 10

Antoine Godeau, 1634–1672, ecclesiastic and poet

Esprit Fléchier, 1672–1710, ecclesiastic

Henri de Nesmond, 1710–1727, ecclesiastic

Jean-Jacques Amelot de Chaillou, 1727–1749, politician

Charles Louis Auguste Fouquet, duc de Belle-Isle, 1749–1761, politician and soldier

Nicolas-Charles-Joseph Trublet, 1761–1770, ecclesiastic

Jean François de Saint-Lambert, 1770–1793, poet and philosopher

Hugues-Bernard Maret, duc de Bassano, 1803–1815, politician and diplomat

Joseph Lainé, 1816–1835, politician and magistrate

Emmanuel Dupaty, 1836–1851, poet and playwright

Alfred de Musset, 1852–1857, playwright and poet

Victor de Laprade, 1858–1883, poet

François Coppée, 1884–1908, poet and novelist

Jean Aicard, 1909–1921, poet and novelist

Camille Jullian, 1924–1933, historian and philologist

Léon Bérard, 1934–1960, politician and lawyer

Jean Guitton, 1961–1999, theologian and philosopher

Florence Delay, 2000–2025, novelist and playwright

Seat 11

Philippe Habert, 1634–1638, poet

Jacques Esprit, 1639–1678, politician

Jacques-Nicolas Colbert, 1678–1707, ecclesiastic

Claude-François Fraguier, 1707–1728, ecclesiastic

Charles d'Orléans de Rothelin, 1728–1744, ecclesiastic

Gabriel Girard, 1744–1748, ecclesiastic

Marc-Antoine-René de Voyer d'Argenson de Paulmy, 1748–1787, politician

Henri-Cardin-Jean-Baptiste d'Aguesseau, 1787–1826, politician

Charles Brifaut, 1826–1857, poet and playwright

Jules Sandeau, 1858–1883, novelist and playwright

Edmond François Valentin About, 1884–1885, novelist and playwright

Léon Say, 1886–1896, politician and economist

Albert Vandal, 1896–1910, historian

Denys Cochin, 1911–1922, politician

Georges Goyau, 1922–1939, historian

Paul Hazard, 1940–1944, historian and philosopher

Maurice Garçon, 1946–1967, lawyer, novelist and historian

Paul Morand, 1968–1976, diplomat, novelist, playwright and poet

Alain Peyrefitte, 1977–1999, scholar and politician

Gabriel de Broglie, 2001–2025, historian

Éric Neuhoff, elected 2025, journalist and novelist

Seat 12

Germain Habert, 1634–1654, ecclesiastic

Charles Cotin, 1655–1681, ecclesiastic

Louis de Courcillon, 1682–1723, ecclesiastic and politician

Charles Jean-Baptiste Fleuriau, 1723–1732, politician

Jean Terrasson, 1732–1750, ecclesiastic and philosopher

Claude de Thiard de Bissy, 1750–1810, soldier

Joseph-Alphonse Esménard, 1810–1811, politician

Jean Charles Dominique de Lacretelle, 1811–1855, historian

Jean-Baptiste Biot, 1856–1862, scientist and mathematician

Louis de Carné, 1863–1876, historian and politician

Charles Blanc, 1876–1882, art critic

Édouard Pailleron, 1882–1899, poet and playwright

Paul Hervieu, 1900–1915, novelist and playwright

François, Vicomte de Curel, 1918–1928, playwright

Charles Le Goffic, 1930–1932, novelist and historian

Abel Bonnard, 1932–1945, poet, novelist and politician; expelled for his collaboration with the Vichy French regime

Jules Romains, 1946–1972, novelist, playwright and poet

Jean d'Ormesson, 1973–2017, novelist

Chantal Thomas, elected 2021, writer and historian

Seat 13

Claude Gaspard Bachet de Méziriac, 1634–1638, grammarian and mathematician

François de La Mothe Le Vayer, 1639–1672, critic, grammarian and philosopher

Jean Racine, 1672–1699, playwright, mathematician, physicist and doctor

Jean-Baptiste-Henri de Valincour, 1699–1730, historiographer and admiral

Jean-François Leriget de La Faye, 1730–1731, politician

Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon, 1731–1762, playwright

Claude-Henri de Fusée de Voisenon, 1762–1775, ecclesiastic, playwright and poet

Jean de Dieu-Raymond de Cucé de Boisgelin, 1776–1804, ecclesiastic

Jean-Baptiste Dureau de la Malle, 1804–1807, translator

Louis-Benoît Picard, 1807–1828, comedian, poet, novelist and playwright

Antoine-Vincent Arnault, 1829–1834, poet, fabulist and playwright

Eugène Scribe, 1834–1861, playwright

Octave Feuillet, 1862–1890, novelist and playwright

Pierre Loti, 1891–1923, novelist and soldier

Paul-Albert Besnard, 1924–1934, painter and engraver

Louis Gillet, 1935–1943, historian of art and literature

Paul Claudel, 1946–1955, poet, playwright, novelist and diplomat

Wladimir d'Ormesson, 1956–1973, politician, chronicler and novelist

Maurice Schumann, 1974–1998, politician, essayist, journalist, novelist and historian

Pierre Messmer, 1999–2007, soldier and politician

Simone Veil, 2008–2017, lawyer and politician

Maurizio Serra, elected 2020, writer and diplomat

Seat 14

François Maynard, 1634–1646, magistrate and poet

Pierre Corneille, 1647–1684, playwright and lawyer

Thomas Corneille, 1684–1709, playwright

Antoine Houdar de la Motte, 1710–1731, playwright

Michel-Celse-Roger de Bussy-Rabutin, 1732–1736, ecclesiastic

Étienne Lauréault de Foncemagne, 1736–1779, ecclesiastic

Michel Paul Guy de Chabanon, 1779–1792, playwright

Jacques-André Naigeon, 1803–1810, encyclopaedist

Népomucène Lemercier, 1810–1840, poet and playwright

Victor Hugo, 1841–1885, poet, playwright and novelist

Leconte de Lisle, 1886–1894, poet and playwright

Henry Houssaye, 1894–1911, historian and novelist

Hubert Lyautey, 1912–1934, soldier

Louis Franchet d'Espèrey, 1934–1942, politician and soldier

Robert d'Harcourt, 1946–1965, literary historian and essayist

Jean Mistler, 1966–1988, novelist, essayist, literary historian, music critic and politician

Hélène Carrère d'Encausse, 1990–2023, historian

Florian Zeller, elected 2025, writer and filmmaker

Seat 15

Guillaume Bautru, 1634–1665, politician

Jacques Testu de Belval, 1665–1706, ecclesiastic and poet

François-Joseph de Beaupoil de Sainte-Aulaire, 1706–1742, soldier and poet

Jean-Jacques d'Ortous de Mairan, 1743–1771, physicist and mathematician

François Arnaud, 1771–1784, ecclesiastic

Gui-Jean-Baptiste Target, 1785–1806, magistrate

Jean-Sifrein Maury, 1806 - excluded by ordinance in 1816, ecclesiastic and politician

François-Xavier-Marc-Antoine de Montesquiou-Fézensac, 1816–1832, ecclesiastic and politician

Antoine Jay, 1832–1854, politician

Ustazade Silvestre de Sacy, 1854–1879, literary critic

Eugène Marin Labiche, 1880–1888, playwright and novelist

Henri Meilhac, 1888–1897, playwright

Henri Lavedan, 1898–1940, playwright and novelist

Ernest Seillière, 1946–1955, historian of literature and of philosophy, and essayist

André Chamson, 1956–1983, novelist, essayist and historian

Fernand Braudel, 1984–1985, historian of civilisations

Jacques Laurent, 1986–2000, novelist, essayist and journalist

Frédéric Vitoux, elected 2001, writer and journalist

Seat 16

Jean Sirmond, 1634–1649, historiographer

Jean de Montereul, 1649–1651, ecclesiastic

François Tallemant l'Aîné, 1651–1693, ecclesiastic

Simon de la Loubère, 1693–1729, diplomat and poet

Claude Sallier, 1729–1761, ecclesiastic and philologist

Jean-Gilles du Coëtlosquet, 1761–1784, ecclesiastic

Anne-Pierre, marquis de Montesquiou-Fézensac, 1784–1793, politician

Antoine-Vincent Arnault, 1803, excluded by ordinance in 1816, re-elected in 1829 to seat 13, poet, fabulist and playwright

Armand-Emmanuel de Vignerot du Plessis, Duc de Richelieu, 1816–1822, politician

Bon-Joseph Dacier, 1822–1833, philologist

Pierre François Tissot, 1833–1854, poet and historian

Félix Dupanloup, 1854–1878, ecclesiastic

Gaston Audiffret-Pasquier, 1878–1905, politician

Alexandre Ribot, 1906–1923, politician, lawyer, magistrate and jurist

Henri-Robert, 1923–1936, lawyer and historian

Charles Maurras, 1938, not excluded, but seat "declared vacant" for Vichy collaboration in 1945, journalist, politician, essayist and poet

Antoine de Lévis Mirepoix, 1953–1981, novelist, historian and essayist

Léopold Sédar Senghor, 1983–2001, head of state (Senegal), politician, poet and essayist

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, 2003–2020, former president of France

Raphaël Gaillard, elected 2024, psychiatrist and teacher

Seat 17

François de Cauvigny de Colomby, 1634–1649, poet

François Tristan l'Hermite, 1649–1655, playwright and poet

Hippolyte-Jules Pilet de La Mesnardière, 1655–1663, critic, poet and historian

François de Beauvilliers, 1st duc de Saint-Aignan, 1663–1687, soldier

François-Timoléon de Choisy, 1687–1724, ecclesiastic

Antoine Portail, 1724–1736, politician

Pierre-Claude Nivelle de La Chaussée, 1736–1754, playwright

Jean-Pierre de Bougainville, 1754–1763, historian

Jean-François Marmontel, 1763–1793, philosopher and essayist

Louis-Marcelin de Fontanes, 1803–1821, politician, poet and journalist

Abel-François Villemain, 1821–1870, politician and literary critic

Émile Littré, 1871–1881, philologist and philosopher

Louis Pasteur, 1881–1895, chemist

Gaston Paris, 1896–1903, philologist and literary historian

Frédéric Masson, 1903–1923, historian

Georges Lecomte, 1924–1958, novelist, essayist, art critic and historian

Jean Delay, 1959–1987, psychiatrist, essayist and novelist

Jacques Cousteau, 1988–1997, oceanographer, film-maker and essayist

Érik Orsenna, elected 1998, politician and novelist

Seat 18

Jean Baudoin, 1634–1650, translator

François Charpentier, 1650–1702, novelist

Jean-François de Chamillart, 1702–1714, ecclesiastic

Claude Louis Hector de Villars, 1714–1734, politician and soldier

Honoré Armand de Villars, 1734–1770, politician

Étienne Charles de Loménie de Brienne, 1770–1794, ecclesiastic, politician and philosopher

Jean-Gérard Lacuée, count of Cessac, 1803–1841, politician

Alexis de Tocqueville, 1841–1859, politician

Jean-Baptiste Henri Lacordaire, 1860–1861, ecclesiastic

Albert, 4th duc de Broglie, 1862–1901, politician, diplomat and historian

Charles-Jean-Melchior de Vogüé, 1901–1916, archaeologist and historian

Ferdinand Foch, 1918–1929, soldier

Philippe Pétain, 1929–1945, soldier (expelled from the Academy after trial; from 1945 to 1952, the seat was vacant)

André François-Poncet, 1952–1978, politician and diplomat

Edgar Faure, 1978–1988, politician and historian

Michel Serres, 1990–2019, philosopher

Mario Vargas Llosa, 2021–2025, novelist and essayist

Seat 19

François de Porchères d'Arbaud, 1634–1640, poet

Olivier Patru, 1640–1681, lawyer

Nicolas Potier de Novion, 1681–1693, magistrate

Philippe Goibaud-Dubois, 1693–1694, translator

Charles Boileau, 1694–1704, ecclesiastic

Gaspard Abeille, 1704–1718, ecclesiastic

Nicolas-Hubert de Mongault, 1718–1746, ecclesiastic

Charles Pinot Duclos, 1746–1772, grammarian and historian

Nicolas Beauzée, 1772–1789, grammarian

Jean-Jacques Barthélemy, 1789–1795, ecclesiastic

Joseph Chénier, 1803–1811, poet and playwright

François-René de Chateaubriand, 1811–1848, politician, poet and novelist

Paul, 6th duc de Noailles, 1849–1885, historian

Édouard Hervé, 1886–1899, politician

Paul Deschanel, 1899–1922, politician

Auguste Jonnart, 1923–1927, politician, senior bureaucrat and diplomat

Maurice Paléologue, 1928–1944, diplomat and historian

Charles de Chambrun, 1946–1952, diplomat

Fernand Gregh, 1953–1960, poet, literary critic and historian

René Clair, 1960–1981, film director and novelist

Pierre Moinot, 1982–2007, senior bureaucrat and novelist

Jean-Loup Dabadie, 2008–2020, journalist, lyricist and screenwriter

Sylviane Agacinski, elected 2023, philosopher

Seat 20

Paul Hay du Chastelet, 1634–1636, lawyer

Nicolas Perrot d'Ablancourt, 1637–1664, translator

Roger de Rabutin, Comte de Bussy, 1665–1693, novelist

Jean-Paul Bignon, 1693–1743, ecclesiastic

Armand-Jérôme Bignon, 1743–1772, politician

Louis-Georges de Bréquigny, 1772–1795, historian

Ponce Denis Écouchard Lebrun, 1803–1807, poet

François Juste Marie Raynouard, 1807–1836, lawyer, poet and playwright

François Mignet, 1836–1884, historian

Victor Duruy, 1884–1894, politician and historian

Jules Lemaître, 1895–1914, playwright and critic

Henry Bordeaux, 1919–1963, lawyer and novelist

Thierry Maulnier, 1964–1988, journalist and playwright

José Cabanis, 1990–2000, magistrate and novelist

Angelo Rinaldi, 2001–2025, writer

Seat 21

Marin le Roy de Gomberville, 1634–1674, novelist

Pierre Daniel Huet, 1674–1721, ecclesiastic

Jean Boivin le Cadet, 1721–1726, professor

Paul-Hippolyte de Beauvilliers, duke of Saint-Aignan, 1726–1776, politician

Charles-Pierre Colardeau, 1776, poet and playwright

Jean-François de La Harpe, 1776–1793, poet, playwright and critic

Pierre Louis de Lacretelle, 1803–1824, lawyer

Joseph Droz, 1824–1850, philosopher and historian

Charles Forbes René de Montalembert, 1851–1870, philosopher

Henri d'Orleans, duke of Aumale, 1871–1897, soldier, politician and historian

Jean-Baptiste Claude Eugène Guillaume, 1898–1905, sculptor

Étienne Lamy, 1905–1919, essayist, politician and lawyer

André Chevrillon, 1920–1957, essayist and literary historian and critic

Marcel Achard, 1959–1974, playwright and journalist

Félicien Marceau, 1975–2012, playwright, novelist and essayist

Alain Finkielkraut, elected 2014, philosopher and essayist

Seat 22

Antoine Girard de Saint-Amant, 1634–1661, poet

Jacques Cassagne, 1662–1679, ecclesiastic and poet

Louis de Verjus, 1679–1709, politician

Jean-Antoine de Mesmes, 1710–1723, magistrate

Pierre-Joseph Alary, 1723–1770, ecclesiastic

Gabriel-Henri Gaillard, 1771–1806, ecclesiastic, historian, grammarian and journalist

Louis Philippe, comte de Ségur, 1806–1830, diplomat, historian, poet and playwright

Jean-Pons-Guillaume Viennet, 1830–1868, politician, poet and playwright

Joseph d'Haussonville, 1869–1884, politician and diplomat

Ludovic Halévy, 1884–1908, playwright, librettist and novelist

Eugène Brieux, 1909–1932, playwright

François Mauriac, 1933–1970, writer, essayist and literary critic

Julien Green, 1971–1998, novelist and playwright

René de Obaldia, 1999–2022, playwright and poet

Alain Aspect, elected 2025, physicist

Seat 23

Guillaume Colletet, 1634–1659, lawyer and playwright

Gilles Boileau, 1659–1669, poet

Jean de Montigny, 1670–1671, ecclesiastic and poet

Charles Perrault, 1671–1703, poet

Armand Gaston Maximilien de Rohan, 1703–1749, ecclesiastic and politician

Louis-Gui de Guérapin de Vauréal, 1749–1760, ecclesiastic and politician

Charles Marie de La Condamine, 1760–1774, explorer

Jacques Delille, 1774–1813, ecclesiastic and poet

François-Nicolas-Vincent Campenon, 1813–1843, poet

Marc Girardin, 1844–1873, politician and literary critic

Alfred Mézières, 1874–1915, literary historian, politician and essayist

René Boylesve, 1918–1926, novelist and poet

Abel Hermant, 1927–1945, novelist, essayist and journalist

Étienne Gilson, 1946–1978, philosopher

Henri Gouhier, 1979–1994, philosopher and literary critic

Pierre Rosenberg, elected 1995, art historian and essayist

Seat 24

Jean de Silhon, 1634–1667, politician

Jean-Baptiste Colbert, 1667–1683, politician

Jean de La Fontaine, 1684–1695, poet

Jules de Clérambault, 1695–1714, ecclesiastic

Guillaume Massieu, 1714–1722, ecclesiastic

Claude-François-Alexandre Houtteville, 1722–1742, ecclesiastic

Pierre de Marivaux, 1742–1763, playwright and novelist

Claude-François Lysarde de Radonvilliers, 1763–1789, ecclesiastic

Constantin-François Chassebœuf, 1803–1820, philosopher

Claude-Emmanuel de Pastoret, 1820–1840, politician, lawyer and poet

Louis de Beaupoil de Saint-Aulaire, 1841–1854, politician

Victor de Broglie, 1855–1870, politician

Prosper Duvergier de Hauranne, 1870–1881, politician

Sully Prudhomme, 1881–1907, poet and essayist

Henri Poincaré, 1908–1912, mathematician, astronomer, engineer and philosopher

Alfred Capus, 1914–1922, playwright, journalist and essayist

Édouard Estaunié, 1923–1942, novelist and engineer

Louis-Pasteur Vallery-Radot, 1944–1970, doctor

Étienne Wolff, 1971–1996, biologist

Jean-François Revel, 1997–2006, historian and essayist

Max Gallo, 2007–2017, journalist and novelist

François Sureau, elected 2020, writer

Seat 25

Claude de L'Estoile, 1634–1652, playwright and poet

Armand de Camboust, duc de Coislin, 1652–1702, soldier

Pierre de Camboust, duc de Coislin, 1702–1710, aristocrat

Henri Charles du Cambout de Coislin, 1710–1732, ecclesiastic

Jean-Baptiste Surian, 1733–1754, ecclesiastic

Jean Le Rond, dit d'Alembert, 1754–1783, philosopher and mathematician

Marie-Gabriel-Florent-Auguste de Choiseul-Gouffier, 1783–1793, biographer

Jean-Étienne-Marie Portalis, 1803–1807, politician, philosopher and lawyer

Pierre Laujon, 1807–1811, poet and songwriter

Charles-Guillaume Étienne, 1811–1816, poet and playwright, excluded by ordinance

Marie-Gabriel-Florent-Auguste de Choiseul-Gouffier, (2nd time), 1816–1817

Jean-Louis Laya, 1817–1833, poet and playwright

Charles Nodier, 1833–1844, novelist, poet and grammarian

Prosper Mérimée, 1844–1870, novelist

Louis de Loménie, 1871–1878, essayist

Hippolyte Taine, 1878–1893, essayist and historian

Albert Sorel, 1894–1906, historian

Maurice Donnay, 1907–1945, playwright

Marcel Pagnol, 1946–1974, playwright, film-maker and novelist

Jean Bernard, 1976–2006, medical doctor

Dominique Fernandez, elected 2007, novelist and literary critic

Seat 26

Amable de Bourzeys, 1634–1672, ecclesiastic and scholar

Jean Gallois, 1672–1707, ecclesiastic

Edme Mongin, 1707–1746, ecclesiastic

Jean Ignace de La Ville, 1746–1774, ecclesiastic and diplomat

Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Suard, 1774–1817, essayist

Jean-François Roger, 1817–1842, poet and playwright

Henri Patin, 1842–1876, professor

Marie-Louis-Antoine-Gaston Boissier, 1876–1908, historian and philologist

René Doumic, 1909–1937, literary historian and critic, and essayist

André Maurois, 1938–1967, novelist, essayist, literary historian and critic

Marcel Arland, 1968–1986, novelist, essayist, literary historian and critic

Georges Duby, 1987–1996, historian

Jean-Marie Rouart, elected 1997, novelist and essayist

Seat 27

Abel Servien, 1634–1659, politician

Jean-Jacques Renouard de Villayer, 1659–1691, politician

Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle, 1691–1757, playwright and philosopher

Antoine-Louis Séguier, 1757–1792, lawyer

Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, 1803–1814, essayist

Étienne Aignan, 1814–1824, journalist and playwright

Alexandre Soumet, 1824–1845, poet and playwright

Ludovic Vitet, 1845–1873, archaeologist

Elme Marie Caro, 1874–1887, philosopher

Gabriel Paul Othenin de Cléron, comte d'Haussonville, 1888–1924, politician and lawyer

Auguste-Armand de la Force, 1925–1961 historian

Joseph Kessel, 1962–1979, journalist and novelist

Michel Droit, 1980–2001, novelist

Pierre Nora, 2001–2025, historian

Seat 28

Jean-Louis Guez de Balzac, 1634–1654, essayist

Paul Hardouin de Péréfixe de Beaumont, 1654–1670, ecclesiastic and historian

François de Harlay de Champvallon, 1671–1695, ecclesiastic

André Dacier, 1695–1722, philologist and translator

Guillaume Dubois, 1722–1723, ecclesiastic and politician

Charles-Jean-François Hénault, 1723–1770, magistrate

Charles Juste de Beauvau, 1771–1793, politician and soldier

Philippe-Antoine Merlin de Douai, 1803–1815, politician and lawyer; removed by ordinance

Antoine-François-Claude Ferrand, 1816–1825, magistrate, poet, historian and playwright

Casimir Delavigne, 1825–1843, poet and playwright

Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve, 1844–1869, essayist and poet

Jules Janin, 1870–1874, novelist and critic

John Lemoinne, 1875–1892, diplomat and journalist

Ferdinand Brunetière, 1893–1906, literary critic, historian of literature and essayist

Henri Barboux, 1907–1910, lawyer

Henry Roujon, 1911–1914, senior bureaucrat, essayist and novelist

Louis Barthou, 1918–1934, politician, magistrate, historian and historian of literature; assassinated

Claude Farrère, 1935–1957, novelist, essayist and historian

Henri Troyat, 1959–2007, novelist, historian of literature, historian

Jean-Christophe Rufin, elected 2008, physician and novelist

Seat 29

Pierre Bardin, 1634–1635, philosopher and mathematician

Nicolas Bourbon, 1637–1644, ecclesiastic

François-Henri Salomon de Virelade, 1644–1670, lawyer

Philippe Quinault, 1670–1688, poet and playwright

François de Callières, 1688–1717, philologist

André-Hercule de Fleury, 1717–1743, ecclesiastic and politician

Paul d'Albert de Luynes, 1743–1788, ecclesiastic

Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian, 1788–1794, playwright, novelist and poet

Jean-François Cailhava de L'Estandoux, 1803–1813, playwright, poet and critic

Joseph Michaud, 1813–1839, journalist and historian

Jean Pierre Flourens, 1840–1867, physiologist

Claude Bernard, 1868–1878, doctor

Ernest Renan, 1878–1892, philosopher

Paul-Armand Challemel-Lacour, 1893–1896, politician and diplomat

Gabriel Hanotaux, 1897–1944, politician, diplomat and historian

André Siegfried, 1944–1959, historian and geographer

Henry de Montherlant, 1960–1972, playwright, novelist and essayist

Claude Lévi-Strauss, 1973–2009, anthropologist

Amin Maalouf, elected 2011, novelist

Seat 30

Honorat de Bueil, seigneur de Racan, 1634–1670, poet

François-Séraphin Régnier-Desmarais, 1670–1713, ecclesiastic and grammarian

Bernard de la Monnoye, 1713–1728, philologist and critic

Michel Poncet de La Rivière, 1728–1730, ecclesiastic

Jacques Hardion. 1730–1766, historian

Antoine Léonard Thomas, 1766–1785, poet

Jacques Antoine Hippolyte, Comte de Guibert, 1785–1790, playwright

Jean Jacques Régis de Cambacérès, 1803- excluded by ordinance 1816, politician; died 1824

Louis Gabriel Ambroise de Bonald, 1816–1840, philosopher and publicist

Jacques-François Ancelot, 1841–1854, poet, novelist and playwright

Ernest Legouvé, 1855–1903, poet, novelist, playwright and essayist

René Bazin, 1903–1932, novelist and essayist

Théodore Gosselin, 1932–1935, historian who wrote under the pen name of G. Lenotre

Georges Duhamel, 1935–1966, doctor, essayist, novelist, poet and playwright

Maurice Druon, 1966–2009, politician and novelist

Danièle Sallenave, elected 2011, novelist and journalist

Seat 31

Pierre de Boissat, 1634–1662, soldier

Antoine Furetière, 1662–1685, poet, fabulist and novelist; excluded but not replaced, died in 1688

Jean de La Chapelle, 1688–1723, poet

Pierre-Joseph Thoulier d'Olivet, 1723–1768, ecclesiastic and grammarian

Étienne Bonnot de Condillac, 1768–1780, ecclesiastic and philosopher

Louis-Élisabeth de La Vergne de Tressan, 1780–1783, poet and physicist

Jean Sylvain Bailly, 1783–1793, mathematician; guillotined

Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès, 1803–1816, ecclesiastic, essayist and diplomat; excluded by ordinance, died 1836

Gérard de Lally-Tollendal, 1816–1830, politician

Jean-Baptiste Sanson de Pongerville, 1830–1870, poet

Xavier Marmier, 1870–1892, novelist and poet

Henri de Bornier, 1893–1901, playwright and poet

Edmond Rostand, 1901–1918, playwright and poet

Joseph Bédier, 1920–1938, philologist

Jérôme Tharaud, 1938–1953, novelist

Jean Cocteau, 1955–1963, playwright, poet, choreographer, filmmaker and painter

Jacques Rueff, 1964–1978, economist and high bureaucrat

Jean Dutourd, 1978–2011, novelist

Michael Edwards, elected 2013, literary scholar

Seat 32

Claude Favre de Vaugelas, 1634–1650, grammarian

Georges de Scudéry, 1650–1667, novelist, playwright and poet

Philippe de Courcillon, 1667–1720, soldier, governor and diplomat

Armand de Vignerot du Plessis, 1720–1788, soldier, libertine and politician

François-Henri d'Harcourt, 1788–1802, soldier

Lucien Bonaparte, 1803–1816, politician. Excluded by ordinance.

Louis-Simon Auger, 1816–1829, journalist and playwright

Charles-Guillaume Étienne, 1829–1845, poet and playwright

Alfred de Vigny, 1845–1863, poet

Camille Doucet, 1865–1895, poet and playwright

Charles Costa de Beauregard, 1896–1909, historian and politician

Hippolyte Langlois, 1911–1912, soldier

Émile Boutroux, 1912–1921, philosopher and historian of philosophy

Pierre de Nolhac, 1922–1936, historian, art historian and poet

Georges-François-Xavier-Marie Grente, 1936–1959, ecclesiastic, historian and essayist

Henri Massis, 1960–1970, essayist, literary critic and literary historian

Georges Izard, 1971–1973, politician, lawyer, journalist and essayist

Robert Aron, 1974–1975, historian and essayist

Maurice Rheims, 1976–2003, novelist and art historian

Alain Robbe-Grillet, 2004–2008, novelist and filmmaker

François Weyergans, 2009–2019, novelist and filmmaker

Pascal Ory, elected 2021, historian

Seat 33

Vincent Voiture, 1634–1648, poet

François Eudes de Mézeray, 1648–1683, lawyer

Jean Barbier d'Aucour, 1683–1694, lawyer

François de Clermont-Tonnerre, 1694–1701, ecclesiastic

Nicolas de Malézieu, 1701–1727, tutor and poet

Jean Bouhier, 1727–1746, magistrate and archaeologist

François-Marie Arouet dit Voltaire, 1746–1778, playwright, historian, philosopher and poet

Jean-François Ducis, 1778–1816, poet and playwright

Raymond Desèze, 1816–1828, lawyer

Amable Guillaume Prosper Brugière, baron de Barante, 1828–1866, politician

Auguste Joseph Alphonse Gratry, 1867–1872, ecclesiastic and philosopher

René Taillandier, 1873–1879, politician

Maxime Du Camp, 1880–1894, essayist and novelist

Paul Bourget, 1894–1935, novelist, poet and playwright

Edmond Jaloux, 1936–1949, novelist, literary critic and literary historian

Jean-Louis Vaudoyer, 1950–1963, novelist, poet, essayist and art historian

Marcel Brion, 1964–1984, novelist, art historian and essayist

Michel Mohrt, 1985–2011, editor, essayist, novelist and literary historian

Dominique Bona, elected 2013, novelist

Seat 34

Honorat de Porchères Laugier, 1634–1653, poet

Paul Pellisson, 1653–1693, historian

François de Salignac de La Mothe Fénelon, 1693–1715, ecclesiastic and essayist

Claude Gros de Boze, 1715–1753, erudite and numismatist

Louis de Bourbon Condé de Clermont, 1753–1771, ecclesiastic

Pierre-Laurent Buirette de Belloy, 1771–1775, playwright and actor

Emmanuel-Félicité de Durfort de Duras, 1775–1789, politician and soldier

Dominique Joseph Garat, 1803–1816, politician, lawyer and philosopher.