Désiré, an eminent French archaeologist, was born about 1789 at St. Amand, in the department of Cher, and received his education at Bourget. His quick and facile talents soon began to lead him to a high place in the world of letters. At the age of twenty-two he was called to the chair of history in the lycée at Paris. About four years afterwards he was translated to the same chair in the university of that city. Meanwhile he was commencing to prosecute the science of archaeology with great success. The first result of his labours, published in 1815 under the title of Histoire Critique de l'Establishissement des Colonies Grecques, in 4 vols. 8vo, was favourably received by the public. This achievement stimulated him in his favourite investigations. It is true that a part of his attention was for a while directed to the topography and history of modern Switzerland. But he was soon found making frequent tours of discovery into different European countries, and perfecting his archaeological knowledge by the examination of museums and ruined buildings. A part of his researches appeared in 1822 under the title of Antiquités Grecques du Bosphore Cimmérien, and established his fame. So eminent, in fact, did he become, that he was appointed in 1826 to the chair of archaeology. The remainder of Raoul Rochette's life was occupied in maintaining that reputation which he had so laboriously gained. He continued to make frequent incursions into the scenes of classical history, and to embody his discoveries in a series of works. His principal publications were,—Monuments Inédits d'Antiquité figurée Grecque, Étrusque, et Romaine, in folio, 1828; Pompeï : Choix d'Edifices Inédits, in folio, 1828; Peintures Antiques Inédites, in 4to, 1836; Mémoires de Numismatique et d'Antiquité, in 4to, 1840; and Mémoires d'Archéologie Comparée Asiatique, Grecque et Étrusque, in 4to, 1848. At his death in 1854, Raoul Rochette was perpetual secretary of the Academy of Fine Arts, and a corresponding member of most of the learned societies in Europe.