Orleanist general, war minister of the Government of National Defence and of Thiers against the Commune, then ambassador in St Petersburg
Born at Lesneven in 1804, he left Saint-Cyr in 1825. He made his name at the capture of Constantine in Algeria, became colonel in 1844 and brigadier general in 1848, and was sent to Russia as minister plenipotentiary in 1848. A convinced Orleanist monarchist, he sat in the Constituent Assembly of 1848 and the Legislative Assembly of 1849, opposed Louis-Napoléon and was banished after the coup of 1851, befriending Victor Hugo in Jersey. After the Republic was proclaimed in 1870 he became minister of war in the Government of National Defence; kept in office by Thiers on 19 February 1871, he seconded him in the struggle against the Commune and resigned in June, after the Bloody Week. Ambassador in St Petersburg until 1879, he used his friendship with Alexander II to check Germany's aggressive policy in 1875.
Also known as: Adolphe Charles Le Flô · Adolphe Le Flo
Activities and affiliations
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1825–1851
Military command
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1848–1851
Legislature and state representation
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1870–1871
France state institutionsMinister of WarMain
Military command -
1871–1879
Diplomacy and international organization
Career Timeline
- 1848Brigadier general; minister plenipotentiary to Russia; deputy
- 1851–1857Banished after the coup; exile in Jersey
- 1870–1871Minister of War of the Government of National Defence and under Thiers
- 1871–1879Ambassador in St Petersburg