Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin,
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Introduction
Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, Some people would call this man a great gastronome, a Lawyer, a politician and an Author, but having researched this man at great length I would describe him as being one of the great Anthropologists of our time, a man of great Intelligence and vision who was light Years ahead of his time as regards to his publications on the relationship between man and food.
His Early Life
He was born into a family of Lawyers on the 1st of April 1755 in a town called Bellay, Where his Father was the crown Prosecutor for the area and his brother a Magistrate,
He himself went to the University of Dijon after which He was called to the Bar in Belley.
He supported the French revolution and was elected Deputy to the states general in 1789, and sat on the Assemblee Constituante.
He was also an ardent supporter of the death penalty as he felt it would have a dissuasive effect on people committing serious crime.
He adopted his second surname (Savarin) from an Aunt who left him her fortune on the condition he adopted her surname.
In 1792 He became Mayor of Belley, but had to flee France for the United States when he revoked his support for the Jacobins.
He taught French and was lead Violinist with the John Street Theatre Orchestra.
After two years in New York Brillat-Savarin went to Connecticut to learn about American food and culture, it is said he met with Thomas Jefferson and inquired of him how best to stuff a wild American Turkey.
In 1796 He returned to France having been made an honorable person, where he took up a post with the General Staff of the Army.