Ferdinand-François-Auguste Donnet



Ferdinand-François-Auguste Donnet (16 November 1795 – 23 December 1882) was a French Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Bordeaux from 1837 until his death. He was elevated to the cardinalate in 1852.

Life
His ecclesiastical province corresponded broadly with the Roman Aquitania Secunda (including Poitiers) but also included the French Antilles. Donnet argued forcefully for the canonisation of Christopher Columbus. Earlier he had been titular bishop of Rhosus appointed to the diocese of Nancy and Toul. A major figure in Napoleon III's Liberal Empire period he was renowned for his energy, e.g. in publishing and in the restoration of churches in his diocese of Bordeaux (including Bazas though without that title). Donnet was named cardinal by pope Pius IX in 1852 and participated in the conclave of 1878. Eleven volumes of his pastoral instructions, sermons and writings were posthumously published.