Édouard René de Laboulaye

Édouard René Lefèbvre de Laboulaye (French pronunciation: ​[edwaːʁ ʁəne ləfɛːvʁ də labulɛ]) (18 January 1811, Paris – 25 May 1883) was a French jurist, poet, author and anti-slavery activist. In 1865 he originated the idea of a monument presented by the French people to the United States that resulted in the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. He got the idea thinking that this would help strengthen their relationship with the United States.