François Arago (1786-1853) was hired at the Paris Observatory in 1807 ; he would be its director from 1834 to his death. A first-class popularizer, his first lectures on « Astronomie populaire » ("Astronomy for all") were given in 1813. They attracted the celebrities of the time as well as a considerable audience, so much so, in fact, that their success went from strength to strength.
After having given his talks in more or less convenient places, Arago managed to obtain funding to build an amphitheatre at the Observatory. It was finished in 1841 by the architect Alphonse de Gisors ; with 800 seats, it formed the west wing of the Observatory building, and was lavishly decorated. It was only used for five years, since severe diabetes forced Arago to stop his lectures in 1846. He died from his illness seven years later, after becoming blind.
Soon after his arrival at the Observatory in 1854, his successor, Urbain Le Verrier, who was not at all interested in the popularization of science, demolished the amphitheatre and replaced it by his own apartment (covering 400 m2 !). Only a few decorative items, which were restored recently, have survived. We badly need this amphitheatre today.
