Eugène Henri Brisson (; 31 July 183514 April 1912) was a French statesman,

Prime Minister of France The prime minister of France (french: link=no, Premier ministre français), officially the prime minister of the French Republic, is the head of government of the French Republic and the leader of the Council of Ministers. The prime minister i ...

for a period in 1885-1886 and again in 1898.

Biography

He was born at

Bourges Bourges () is a commune in central France on the river Yèvre. It is the capital of the department of Cher, and also was the capital city of the former province of Berry. History The name of the commune derives either from the Bituriges, ...

(

Cher Cher (; born Cherilyn Sarkisian; May 20, 1946) is an American singer, actress and television personality. Often referred to by the media as the Honorific nicknames in popular music, "Goddess of Pop", she has been described as embodying female ...

), and followed his father's profession of advocate. Having made his mark in opposition during the last days of the empire, he was appointed deputy-mayor of

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...

after the government was overthrown. He was elected to the Assembly on 8 February 1871, as a member of the extreme

Left Left may refer to: Music * ''Left'' (Hope of the States album), 2006 * ''Left'' (Monkey House album), 2016 * "Left", a song by Nickelback from the album '' Curb'', 1996 Direction * Left (direction), the relative direction opposite of right * ...

. While not approving of the

Commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

, he was the first to propose amnesty for the condemned (on 13 September 1871), but the proposal was voted down. He strongly supported compulsory primary education, and was firmly anti-clerical. He was president of the chamber from 1881—replacing

Léon Gambetta Léon Gambetta (; 2 April 1838 – 31 December 1882) was a French lawyer and republican politician who proclaimed the French Third Republic in 1870 and played a prominent role in its early government. Early life and education Born in Cahors, Ga ...

—to March 1885, when he became prime minister upon the resignation of

Jules Ferry Jules François Camille Ferry (; 5 April 183217 March 1893) was a French statesman and republican philosopher. He was one of the leaders of the Moderate Republicans and served as Prime Minister of France from 1880 to 1881 and 1883 to 1885. He ...

; but he resigned when, after the general elections of that year, he only just obtained a majority for the vote of credit for the Tongking expedition. He remained conspicuous as a public man, took a prominent part in exposing the

Panama scandals Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Co ...

, was a powerful candidate for the presidency after the murder of President Carnot in 1894, and was again president of the chamber from December 1894 to 1898. In June of the latter year he formed a cabinet when the country was violently excited over the

Dreyfus affair The Dreyfus affair (french: affaire Dreyfus, ) was a political scandal that divided the French Third Republic from 1894 until its resolution in 1906. "L'Affaire", as it is known in French, has come to symbolise modern injustice in the Francop ...

; his firmness and honesty increased popular respect for him, but a chance vote on a matter of especial excitement overthrew his ministry in October. As a leader of the radicals he actively supported, the ministries of

Waldeck-Rousseau Pierre Marie René Ernest Waldeck-Rousseau (; 2 December 184610 August 1904) was a French Republican politician who served as the Prime Minister of France. Early life Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau was born in Nantes, Brittany. His father, René Wa ...

and Combes, especially concerning the laws on the religious orders and the separation of church and state. In 1895 he was a candidate for the presidency but lost to

Félix Faure Félix François Faure (; 30 January 1841 – 16 February 1899) was the President of France from 1895 until his death in 1899. A native of Paris, he worked as a tanner in his younger years. Faure became a member of the Chamber of Deputies for ...

. In May 1906 he was elected president of the chamber of deputies by 500 out of 581 votes.

Brisson's 1st Ministry, 6 April 18857 January 1886

*Henri Brisson – President of the Council and

Minister of Justice A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...

Charles de Freycinet Charles Louis de Saulces de Freycinet (; 14 November 1828 – 14 May 1923) was a French statesman and four times Prime Minister during the Third Republic. He also served an important term as Minister of War (1888–1893). He belonged to the Opp ...

–

Minister of Foreign Affairs A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between co ...

Jean-Baptiste Campenon General Jean Baptiste Marie Edouard Campenon (5 May 1819 in Tonnerre – 16 March 1891 in Neuilly-sur-Seine) was a French general and politician. Life He studied at the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr, graduating on 1 October 1840 as ...

– Minister of War *

François Allain-Targé François Henri René Allain-Targé (17 May 1832 – 16 July 1902) was a French politician of the French Third Republic. He served as Minister of finance under Léon Gambetta and Minister of the interior under Henri Brisson. Early life and ...

–

Minister of the Interior An interior minister (sometimes called a minister of internal affairs or minister of home affairs) is a cabinet official position that is responsible for internal affairs, such as public security, civil registration and identification, emergency ...

Jean Clamageran Jean-Jules Clamageran (29 March 1827 – 4 June 1903) was a French politician of the French Third Republic. He was briefly minister of finance (6–16 April 1885) in the ministry of Henri Brisson. He was made a life senator in the Senate of Franc ...

–

Minister of Finance A finance minister is an executive or cabinet position in charge of one or more of government finances, economic policy and financial regulation. A finance minister's portfolio has a large variety of names around the world, such as "treasury", ...

* Charles Eugène Galiber – Minister of Marine and Colonies * René Goblet – Minister of Public Instruction, Fine Arts, and Worship *

Hervé Mangon Hervé Mangon (July 31, 1821 – May 17, 1888) was a French politician of the French Third Republic. He was born in Paris, France. He was minister of agriculture (April 6 – November 9, 1885) in the cabinet of Henri Brisson. He was a commander ...

– Minister of Agriculture * Sadi Carnot – Minister of Public Works *

Ferdinand Sarrien Jean Marie Ferdinand Sarrien (; (15 October 1840 – 28 November 1915) was a French politician of the Third Republic. He was born in Bourbon-Lancy, Saône-et-Loire and died in Paris. He headed a cabinet supported by the ''Bloc des gauches'' (L ...

– Minister of Posts and Telegraphs *

Pierre Legrand Pierre Legrand (May 13, 1834, Paris – May 31, 1895, Paris) was a 19th-century French politician of the French Third Republic. He served twice as minister of commerce (August 7, 1882 – February 20, 1883; April 6, 1885 – January 6, 1886) in t ...

– Minister of Commerce Changes *16 April 1885 – Sadi Carnot succeeds Clamageran as Minister of Finance.

Charles Demôle Charles Demôle (March 22, 1828 – June 18, 1908) was a French politician of the French Third Republic. He was minister of public works (April 16, 1885 – January 6, 1886) in the government of Henri Brisson. He was minister of justice (January 7 ...

succeeds Carnot as Minister of Public Works. *9 November 1885 – Pierre Gomot succeeds Mangon as Minister of Agriculture.

Lucien Dautresme Lucien Dautresme (21 May 1826 – 18 February 1892) was a French politician of the French Third Republic. He was minister of commerce (9 November 1885 – 6 January 1886) in the government of Henri Brisson and minister of commerce and industry (3 ...

succeeds Legrand as Minister of Commerce.

Brisson's Second Ministry, 28 June1 November 1898

*Henri Brisson – President of the Council and Minister of the Interior * Théophile Delcassé – Minister of Foreign Affairs *

Godefroy Cavaignac Godefroy, a surname of Old French origin, and originally a given name, cognate with Geoffrey/Geoffroy/Jeffrey/Jeffries, Godfrey, Gottfried, etc. Godefroy may refer to: People Given name * Godefroi, Comte d'Estrades (1607–1686), French diplomat a ...

– Minister of War *

Paul Peytral Paul Peytral (20 January 1842 – 30 November 1919) was a French politician of the French Third Republic. Career Paul Louis Peytral was born on 20 January 1842 in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône. He was elected deputy for Bouches-du-Rhône on 4 Se ...

– Minister of Finance *

– Minister of Justice and Worship *

Édouard Locroy Édouard is both a French given name and a surname, equivalent to Edward in English. Notable people with the name include: * Édouard Balladur (born 1929), French politician * Édouard Boubat (1923–1999), French photographer * Édouard Colonne (1 ...

– Minister of Marine *

Léon Bourgeois Léon Victor Auguste Bourgeois (; 21 May 185129 September 1925) was a French statesman. His ideas influenced the Radical Party regarding a wide range of issues. He promoted progressive taxation such as progressive income taxes and social insu ...

– Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts *

Albert Viger Albert Viger (19 October 1843 – 8 July 1926) was a French politician of the Third French Republic. He served three times as minister of agriculture in the governments of Alexandre Ribot, Charles Dupuy, Jean Casimir-Perier, Léon Bourgeois and H ...

– Minister of Agriculture *

Georges Trouillot Georges Marie Denis Gabriel Trouillot (7 May 1851 – 20 November 1916) was a French Radical politician. He played a central role in developing the law of 1901 that governed associations such as agricultural cooperative. He was Minister of the Co ...

– Minister of Colonies * Louis Tillaye – Minister of Public Works * Émile Maruéjouls – Minister of Commerce, Industry, Posts, and Telegraphs Changes *5 September 1898 –

Émile Zurlinden Émile Auguste François Thomas Zurlinden (3 November 1837 in Colmar, Haut-Rhin – 9 March 1929) was French Minister of War between 28 January 1895 and 1 November 1895 and again between 5 September 1898 and 17 September 1898 when he succeeded ...

succeeds Cavaignac as Minister of War *17 September 1898 –

Charles Chanoine Charles Sulpice Jules Chanoine (December 18, 1835, Dijon, Côte-d'Or – January 9, 1915) was a French military officer who led the first French mission sent to Japan, between 1867 and 1868. Early in his career, he served as chief of the French ...

succeeds Zurlinden as Minister of War. Jules Godin succeeds Tillaye as Minister of Public Works. *25 October 1898 –

succeeds Chanoine as interim Minister of War, remaining also Minister of Marine.

References

Attribution: *

External links