1844–1912
○ Natural causes
French socialist who went from Jura Federation anarchist to leader of the Possibilists
A physician born at Montpellier in 1844, he joined the International under the impact of the Paris Commune and was expelled from his branch in 1872 for criticising Marx's centralism. After the Barcelona rising he championed "propaganda by the deed" in the Swiss Jura Federation, was expelled from Switzerland in 1879 and returned to France the next year. He then led the Possibilists, who advocated municipal socialism, drove out Guesde and Lafargue, and in 1890 expelled Allemane, setting off the party's decline. He became President of the Paris Municipal Council in 1905 and an SFIO deputy in 1906.
Activities and affiliations
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1871–1872
International Workingmen's Association (First International)
Social movements and organizing -
1873–1879
Ideology and propaganda
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1880–1902
Federation of the Socialist Workers of France (FTSF, Possibilists)Main
Political and party leadership -
1887–1906
France state institutionsParis municipal councillor and council president
Government and administration -
1906–1910
France state institutionsDeputy
Legislature and state representation -
1906–1912
French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO)
Legislature and state representation
Career Timeline
- 1871–1872Member of the International's Montpellier branch; expelled as an anti-Marxist
- 1873–1879Propaganda work in the Jura Federation
- 1880–1902Leader of the Federation of the Socialist Workers of France (Possibilists)
- 1887Elected to the Paris Municipal Council
- 1905President of the Paris Municipal Council
- 1906–1910Deputy (SFIO)