Bourgelat and Henry Bertin
When Henri-Léonard Bertin was the Administrator of the region of Lyon from 1754 to 1757, he and Bourgelat became close friends. Henceforwards Bertin gave Bourgelat his influential, unfailing support.
When Bertin left Lyon, he was made Lieutenant General of Police in Paris, and came under the protection of Mme de Pompadour. The same year, Bourgelat was made Inspector with responsibility for the horse-breeding establishments in the Lyon area.
In 1759, Bertin was made Controller General of Finance. The following year, once again through the intervention of Malesherbes, Bourgelat was made Censor and Inspector of Publishing in Lyon.
In 1761, the government of Louis XV wished to promote the prevention of cattle disease, the protection of grazing land and the training of farmers. Bertin became the agent of this agricultural reform initiated by the King. He proposed that a veterinary school should be founded in Lyon, and that the director should be Bourgelat.
In 1762, Bertin was made Minister of State by Louis XV, which gave him access to the Royal Council of State. Two years later, Bourglat was designated 'Director and Inspector General of the Lyon Veterinary School and of all such schools which exist or which shall exist in our Kingdom', and 'Commissioner General of the Royal Horse-breeding Establishments'.
In 1765, Bertin gave his consent to the founding of the school in Alfort. He can therefore be considered as the co-founder of the veterinary profession.
