[2] Alfred's grandfather, Philippe Joseph Defuisseaux, played a notable role in declaring the establishment of the French republic in the city of Mons in 1792.

[4] His early legal practice centred on defending the working class through Workers' compensation cases, specifically representing coal miners who were victims of firedamp.

[6] Defuisseaux published A People's Catechism (French: Le catéchisme du peuple) in March 1886, which sold over 500,000 copies in working-class circles.

This work aimed at educating the people against the ruling classes and the State before the eventual Belgian strike of 1886 occurred in the Province of Hainaut.

[5] As a member of the Commission of the XXI, formed on 13 February 1895, he took part in reviewing the draft law for the Congo's transfer to Belgium, alongside 14 Catholics, 4 socialists, and 3 liberals.