Félix Dévé (1872-1951)

Félix Dévé was born in Beauvais on November 10, 1872. He studied medicine in Paris and moved to Rouen in 1901 as head of services at the General Hospice of Rouen And full professor of medical pathology at the medical school of Rouen where he taught infectious diseases and neurology. his career was interrupted by WWI (1914-1918) at the end of which he was decorated with the War Cross and made knight of the Legion of Honor on a military basis. Having resumed his duties as chief doctor at the General Hospice he will also become professor of clinical medicine, a prestigious position at the Hotel Dieu of Rouen from 1924 to 1940.

At the same time, he carried out research despite the limited resources allocated to him. The international fame of his works, his insatiable curiosity lead him to cross almost whole Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and especially South America where he stayed almost 3 months in 1932. He participated in many congress and was invited to tour conferences in several countries.

During the bombing of Rouen on April 19, 1944, a bomb fell on his building in rue des Carmes which he had lived in since his arrival in Rouen in 1901 destroying the upper floors. In the ensuing fire, he lost his most precious asset: his library which contained numerous medical or personal documents but most importantly the experimental observations minutely drafted during 40 years of research.

His post-war years were marked by numerous distinctions, prizes and tributes including his entry to the academy of medicine and his elevation to the dignity of officer of the Legion of Honor.

He died in Paris on September 1, 1951