Linguist and writer

Jean Haritschelhar Duhalde was born in Baigorri on the 13th of May 1923. He began his studies in his home town.
Later he studied in Bayonne, Mont-de-Marsan and Tolosa. He has a Doctorate in Liberal Arts from La Sorbona-Paris, having presented the following thesis: "Le poète souletin Pierre Topet-Etxahun" y "L'oeuvre poétique de Pierre Topet-Etxahun", in 1969.

In the professional field, he was a teacher at the Agen Secondary School from 1952 to 1959 and from 1962 to 1986 at the University of Bordel, holding a Basque Language and Literature Chair.

He was named Director of the Basque Museum of Bayonne in 1962. Also in that year, the Basque Language Academy made him a permanent member.

1966. From 1966 to 1988 he was Vice-President of the Basque Language Academy and was named President in 1989, substituting Luis Villasante.

He was mayor of his town, Baigorri, from 1971 to 1980. In 1988 he was named Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of the Basque Country. in 2010 he has also been named Doctor Honoris Causa by the UNED (university for long distance education).

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