The Cousin-Montauban ministry was the last government of the

Second French Empire The Second French Empire (; officially the French Empire, ), was the 18-year Empire, Imperial Bonapartist regime of Napoleon III from 14 January 1852 to 27 October 1870, between the French Second Republic, Second and the French Third Republic ...

. It lasted from 10 August-4 September 1870. It was formed by

Empress Eugenie An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife ( empress consort), mother ( e ...

in an attempt to rally France's defences against the invading Prussians. The ministry was forced out of power following the French defeat at the

Battle of Sedan The Battle of Sedan was fought during the Franco-Prussian War from 1 to 2 September 1870. Resulting in the capture of Emperor Napoleon III and over a hundred thousand troops, it effectively decided the war in favour of Prussia and its allies, ...

Composition

* Head of government:

Charles Cousin-Montauban Charles Guillaume Marie Appollinaire Antoine Cousin-Montauban, 1er Comte de Palikao (; 1796–1878) was a French general and statesman. Biography Montauban was born in Paris. As a cavalry officer he saw much service in Algeria, but he was still o ...

* President of the Council of State: Julien Busson-Billault * Minister of War:

* Minister of Agriculture and Trade: Clément Duvernois * Minister of Public Works:

Jérôme David Jérôme Frédéric Paul, baron David (30 June 1823 – 27 January 1882) was the reputed illegitimate son of Jérôme Bonaparte. Throughout his life, he served France in a number of capacities such as; politician and officer. He was also a journali ...

* Minister of Education: Jules Brame (and of the Arts from 23 August 1870) * Minister of the Navy Colonies:

Charles Rigault de Genouilly Admiral Pierre-Louis-Charles Rigault de Genouilly (, 12 April 1807 – 4 May 1873) was a French naval officer. He fought with distinction in the Crimean War and the Second Opium War, but is chiefly remembered today for his command of French and S ...

* Minister of Foreign Affairs: Henri La Tour d'Auvergne * Minister of Justice and Religious Affairs: Michel Grandperret * Minister of Finance:

Pierre Magne Pierre Magne (3 December 1806 – 17 February 1879) was a lawyer and French politician. He was a member of parliament from 1843 to 1848, a senator in the Second French Empire, and a representative and then senator in the French Third Republic. He ...

* Minister of the Interior: Henri Chevreau

References

{{Governments of France (1792-1870) 1870 08 Empire 2 * Cabinets disestablished in 1870