Victor Considerant, a French socialist, born at Salins, near Besancon, Oct. 12, 1808. He was educated in the polytechnic school in Paris, entered the army, and rose to the rank of captain of engineers. In 1831, having adopted the social theory of Fourier, he resigned his commission in order to devote himself to its advocacy. In 1832 he was engaged in an unsuccessful attempt to realize that theory at Conde-sur-Vesgre, about 40 m. from Paris, the funds being furnished by a wealthy Englishman. He was associated with Fourier in editing the organ of their school, and on his death in 1837 was recognized as the head of the societary school, as the body of his disciples called themselves, and became the chief editor of the Phalange, a monthly review, and of the Democratic pacifique, a daily newspaper which they established in 1845. During this period he wrote and published several books, of which the most important is the Destinee sociale (3 vols., 1834-44). On the outbreak of the revolution of February, 1848, he adhered to the republican party, and was chosen to the constituent assembly from the department of Loiret. In 1849 he was elected to the legislative assembly from the city of Paris; but taking part on June 13 in the public demonstration, headed by Ledru-Rollin, in behalf of the Roman republic, he was compelled to withdraw to Belgium, where he published La derniere guerre et la paix definitive de l'Europe (1850), and La solution, ou le gou-vernement direct du peuple (1851). In 1853 he visited the United States, and selected a site in Texas for a socialistic colony.

Returning to Europe in 1854, he was arrested in Brussels on a charge of conspiracy, but was soon set at liberty. A company was then organized in Paris to establish the colony in Texas, and the settlement was named Reunion, but the socialistic attempt failed. Considerant, becoming naturalized as an American, remained in Texas till 1869, when he returned to France.