Independent socialist who was France's first labour minister and led the government as the First World War began
Born in Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria, in 1863, he became a lawyer and in 1893 was elected socialist deputy for Paris, where his oratory made his name. He founded L'Humanité with Jean Jaurès in 1904 and took part in the unification of the socialists in the SFIO in 1905, but left the party on entering Clemenceau's cabinet in 1906 and called himself an independent socialist. As the first Minister of Labour and Social Security from 1906 to 1910 he carried reforms such as the weekly rest day. Appointed President of the Council on 13 June 1914, he faced the July Crisis and the outbreak of war, and after resigning in October 1915 served as vice-president of the council and Minister of Justice under Briand. In the 1920s he represented France at the League of Nations; a stroke in 1923 left him paralysed until his death in 1925.
Activities and affiliations
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1893–1923
Legislature and state representation
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1905–1906
French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO)
Government and administration -
1906–1917
France state institutionsMinister of Labour, President of the CouncilHeads of state and government of FranceMain
Government and administration
Career Timeline
- 1893–1902Deputy for the Seine
- 1906–1922Deputy for the Seine, from 1910 for the Creuse
- 1906.10.25–1910.11.03Minister of Labour and Social Security
- 1914.06.13–1915.10.29President of the Council of Ministers
- 1915.10–1917Vice-President of the Council, Minister of Justice
- 1922.10.15–1925Senator for the Creuse