Editing Tarn-et-Garonne (section)

===History of the department===
[[File:Tarn-et-Garonne department evolution map-fr.svg|thumb|left|Map of the region before the creation of the department]]
Before the department's formation in the nineteenth century, the northern half formed part of the old province of [[Quercy]] and the southern half, part of [[Languedoc]]. The department was created on 4 November 1808 during the [[First French Empire]] by a decision of [[Napoleon]].<ref name=Archive>{{cite web |url=http://www.archivesdefrance.culture.gouv.fr/action-culturelle/celebrations-nationales/2008/vie-politique-et-institutions/creation-du-departement-de-tarn-et-garonne/ |title=Création du département de Tarn-et-Garonne |author=Pascale Marouseau |language=fr |work=Archives de France |publisher=Archives départementales de Tarn-et-Garonne |access-date=2015-09-18}}</ref> The emperor had been invited to visit the town of [[Montauban]], an important industrial and commercial centre at the time, whose populace thought the town was central enough and sufficiently important to be the capital of a new department. He was impressed by their loyalty and granted their request.<ref name=Archive/>

The department was formed out of territories that had previously been part of neighbouring areas. More than half of the territory was taken from the [[Lot (departement)|Department of Lot]] (including Montauban and [[Moissac]]), over one-third was taken from [[Haute-Garonne]] (including [[Castelsarrasin]]), and the rest from the departments of [[Lot-et-Garonne]], [[Gers]], and [[Aveyron]]. The first [[Prefect (France)|prefect]] was Félix Le Peletier d'Aunay, who was installed in his post on 31 December 1808.<ref name=Archive/>