France's first socialist minister who ended as president of the right-wing Bloc national
Born in Paris in 1859, he was a lawyer. Elected to the Chamber for the Seine in 1885 as a Radical Socialist, in the 1890s he led the independent socialists, whose programme called for collective ownership of the means of production. In June 1899 he entered Waldeck-Rousseau's cabinet as minister of commerce, France's first socialist minister; sitting in the same government as General Galliffet, the repressor of the Commune, set off the debate over "ministerialism" in the Second International. Judged too moderate, he was expelled from the French Socialist Party in 1904, moved to the right and served as minister of war. After the victory of the right-wing Bloc national he became president of the council in January 1920 and was elected president in September, but his attempt to strengthen the presidency ended with his resignation after the Cartel des Gauches won in 1924.
Activities and affiliations
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1885–1940
France state institutionsDeputy for the Seine and senator
Legislature and state representation - 1892–1899
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1899–1902
France state institutionsMinister of Commerce (France's first socialist minister)
Economy, finance and planning -
1902–1904
French Socialist Party (1902–1905)
Government and administration -
1912–1915
France state institutionsMinister of War
Military command -
1920
France state institutionsPresident of the Council of MinistersHeads of state and government of France
Government and administration -
1920–1924
France state institutionsPresident of the RepublicHeads of state and government of FranceMain
Government and administration
Career Timeline
- 1885–1920Deputy for the Seine
- 1892–1899Leader of the independent socialists
- 1899.06.23–1902Minister of Commerce (Waldeck-Rousseau cabinet)
- 1902–1904.01Member of the French Socialist Party (expelled)
- 1909–1910Minister of Public Works, Posts and Telegraphs
- 1912–1913Minister of War
- 1914–1915Minister of War
- 1920.01.20–09.23President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs
- 1920.09.23–1924.06.11President of the Republic
- 1925–1940Senator