Protestant Radical who became president and led a national-unity cabinet after the riots of 6 February 1934
Born in 1863 at Aigues-Vives in the Gard to a Protestant family of winegrowers, he served as a magistrate in Hanoi and Algeria. Elected Radical deputy for Nîmes in 1893, he criticised colonial military interventions and sided with Dreyfus. After several ministries, including the colonies in the Combes cabinet, he was elected senator for the Gard in 1910. He became president of the council and foreign minister in December 1913, leaving in June 1914, and in 1923 he became president of the Senate. When Millerand resigned in 1924, moderate votes made him president over Paul Painlevé, and he served until 1931. Recalled from retirement after the riots of 6 February 1934, he led a national-unity cabinet in which Tardieu and Herriot sat together, but his institutional reform failed and he resigned in November.
Also known as: Pierre Paul Henri Gaston Doumergue
Activities and affiliations
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1893–1924
France state institutionsDeputy, senator and President of the Senate
Legislature and state representation -
1901–
Government and administration
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1902–1917
France state institutionsMinister of the Colonies, of Commerce and of Public Instruction
Government and administration -
1913–1914
France state institutionsPresident of the Council of MinistersHeads of state and government of France
Government and administration -
1924–1931
France state institutionsPresident of the RepublicHeads of state and government of FranceMain
Government and administration -
1934
France state institutionsPresident of the Council of MinistersHeads of state and government of France
Government and administration
Career Timeline
- 1893.12–1910Deputy for Nîmes
- 1902–1905Minister of the Colonies (Combes cabinet)
- 1906–1910Minister of Commerce, then of Public Instruction
- 1910–1924Senator for the Gard
- 1913.12.02–1914.06.02President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1st tenure)
- 1914.08.26–1917.03.19Minister of the Colonies
- 1923.02–1924.06President of the Senate
- 1924.06.13–1931.06.13President of the Republic
- 1934.02.09–11.08President of the Council of Ministers (2nd tenure)