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

Opportunist Republicans The Moderates or Moderate Republicans (french: Républicains modérés), pejoratively labeled Opportunist Republicans (), was a French political group active in the late 19th century during the Third French Republic. The leaders of the group inc ...

faction. He was elected a member of the

Academy of Sciences An academy of sciences is a type of learned society or academy (as special scientific institution) dedicated to sciences that may or may not be state funded. Some state funded academies are tuned into national or royal (in case of the Unit ...

, and in 1890, the fourteenth member to occupy a seat in the

Académie Française An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosop ...

Biography

Early years

Freycinet was born at

Foix Foix (; oc, Fois ; ca, Foix ) is a commune, the former capital of the County of Foix. It is the capital of the department of Ariège as it is the seat of the Préfecture of that department. Foix is located in the Occitanie region of southw ...

( Ariège) of a Protestant family and was the nephew of

Louis de Freycinet Louis Claude de Saulces de Freycinet (7 August 1779 – 18 August 1841) was a French Navy officer. He circumnavigated the earth, and in 1811 published the first map to show a full outline of the coastline of Australia. Biography He was born at ...

, a French navigator. Charles Freycinet was educated at the ''

École Polytechnique École may refer to: * an elementary school in the French educational stages normally followed by secondary education establishments (collège and lycée) * École (river), a tributary of the Seine flowing in région Île-de-France * École, Savoi ...

''. He entered government service as a mining engineer (see X-Mines). In 1858 he was appointed traffic manager to the ''Compagnie de chemins de fer du Midi'', a post in which he showed a remarkable talent for organization, and in 1862 returned to the engineering service, attaining in 1886 the rank of inspector-general. He was sent on several special scientific missions, including one to the United Kingdom, on which he wrote (1867).

Government service

Franco-Prussian War

In July 1870 the Franco-Prussian War started which led to the fall of the

Second French Empire The Second French Empire (; officially the French Empire, ), was the 18-year Imperial Bonapartist regime of Napoleon III from 14 January 1852 to 27 October 1870, between the Second and the Third Republic of France. Historians in the 1930s ...

Napoleon III Napoleon III (Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte; 20 April 18089 January 1873) was the first President of France (as Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte) from 1848 to 1852 and the last monarch of France as Emperor of the French from 1852 to 1870. A neph ...

. On the establishment of the Third Republic in September 1870, he offered his services to

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 ...

, was appointed prefect of the department of

Tarn-et-Garonne Tarn-et-Garonne (; oc, Tarn e Garona ) is a department in the Occitania region in Southern France. It is traversed by the rivers Tarn and Garonne, from which it takes its name. The area was originally part of the former provinces of Quercy and ...

, and in October became chief of the military cabinet. It was mainly Freycinet's powers of organization which enabled Gambetta to raise army after army to oppose the invading Germans. He revealed himself to be a competent strategist, but the policy of dictating operations to the generals in the field was not attended with happy results. The friction between him and General d'Aurelle de Paladines resulted in the

loss Loss may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * ''Loss'' (Bass Communion album) (2006) * ''Loss'' (Mull Historical Society album) (2001) *"Loss", a song by God Is an Astronaut from their self-titled album (2008) * Losses "(Lil Tjay son ...

of the advantage temporarily gained at

Coulmiers Coulmiers () is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France. History This was the site of the defeat of the Prussian Army in the Battle of Coulmiers, November 9, 1870. See also *Communes of the Loiret department The following i ...

and

Orléans Orléans (;"Orleans"
(US) and Armée de l'Est The Armée de l'Est (''Army of the East''; German - Ostarmee; also Second Loire Army; nicknamed the 'Bourbaki army' after its first commander General Charles Denis Sauter Bourbaki) was a French army which took part in the Franco-Prussian War of ...

Charles Denis Bourbaki Charles Denis Sauter Bourbaki (22 April 1816, Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Pau – 22 September 1897, Bayonne) was a French general. Career Bourbaki was born at Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Pau, the son of Greek colonel Constantin Denis Bourb ...

1871-1888

In 1871 he published a defence of his administration under the title of . He entered the Senate in 1876 as a follower of Gambetta, and in December 1877 became Minister of Public Works in the cabinet of Jules Armand Stanislaus Dufaure. He passed a great scheme for the gradual acquisition of the railways by the state and the construction of new lines at a cost of three milliards of francs, and for the development of the canal system at a further cost of one milliard. He retained his post in the ministry of

William Henry Waddington William Henry Waddington (11 December 182613 January 1894) was a French statesman who served as Prime Minister in 1879, and as an Ambassador of France. Early life and education Waddington was born at the Château of Saint-Rémy in Eure-et-Loi ...

, whom he succeeded in December 1879 as Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs. He passed an amnesty for the Communards, but in attempting to steer a middle course (between the Catholics and the anti-clericalists) on the question of the religious associations, he lost Gambetta's support, and resigned in September 1880. In January 1882 he again became Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. The reluctance of the French parliament to join Britain in the

bombardment A bombardment is an attack by artillery fire or by dropping bombs from aircraft on fortifications, combatants, or towns and buildings. Prior to World War I, the term was only applied to the bombardment of defenseless or undefended objects, ...

Alexandria Alexandria ( or ; ar, ٱلْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ ; grc-gre, Αλεξάνδρεια, Alexándria) is the second largest city in Egypt, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in by Alexander the Great, Alexandri ...

was the death-knell of French influence in

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning the North Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via a land bridg ...

. He attempted to compromise by occupying the

Isthmus of Suez The Isthmus of Suez is the land bridge"Suez Cana ...

, but the vote of credit was rejected in the Chamber by 417 votes to 75, and the ministry resigned. He returned to office in April 1885 as Foreign Minister in Henri Brisson's cabinet, and retained that post when, in January 1886, he succeeded to the premiership. He came to power with an ambitious programme of internal reform; but apart from settling the question of the exiled pretenders, his successes were chiefly in the sphere of colonial extension. In spite of his unrivalled skill as a parliamentary tactician, he failed to keep his party together, and was defeated on 3 December 1886. In the following year, after two unsuccessful attempts to construct new ministries, he stood for the Presidency of the Republic; but the radicals, to whom his opportunism was distasteful, turned the scale against him by transferring the votes to

Marie François Sadi Carnot Marie François Sadi Carnot (; 11 August 1837 – 25 June 1894) was a French statesman, who served as the President of France from 1887 until his assassination in 1894. Early life Marie François Sadi Carnot was the son of the statesman Hippo ...

Minister of War

In April 1888 he became Minister of War in

Charles Floquet Charles Thomas Floquet (; 2 October 1828 – 18 January 1896) was a French lawyer and statesman. Biography He was born at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port ( Basses-Pyrénées). Charles Floquet is the son of Pierre Charlemagne Floquet and Marie Léocadie ...

's cabinet – the first civilian since 1848 to hold that office. His services to France in this capacity were the crowning achievement of his life, and he enjoyed the conspicuous honour of holding his office without a break for five years through as many successive administrations – those of Floquet and

Pierre Tirard Pierre Emmanuel Tirard (; 27 September 1827 – 4 November 1893) was a French politician. Biography He was born to French parents in Geneva, Switzerland. After studying in his native town, Tirard became a civil engineer. After five years of gov ...

, his own fourth ministry (March 1890 – February 1892), and the

Émile Loubet Émile François Loubet (; 30 December 183820 December 1929) was the 45th Prime Minister of France from February to December 1892 and later President of France from 1899 to 1906. Trained in law, he became mayor of Montélimar, where he was not ...

and

Alexandre Ribot Alexandre-Félix-Joseph Ribot (; 7 February 184213 January 1923) was a French politician, four times Prime Minister. Early career Ribot was born in Saint-Omer, Pas-de-Calais. After a brilliant academic career at the University of Paris, where h ...

ministries. The introduction of the three-years' service and the establishment of a general staff, a supreme council of war, and the army commands were all due to him. His premiership was marked by heated debates on the clerical question, and it was a hostile vote on his bill against the religious associations that caused the fall of his cabinet. He failed to clear himself entirely of complicity in 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 ...

, and in January 1893 resigned the Ministry of War. In November 1898 he once again became Minister of War in the

Charles Dupuy Charles Alexandre Dupuy (; 5 November 1851 – 23 July 1923) was a French statesman, three times prime minister. Biography He was born in Le Puy-en-Velay, Haute-Loire, Auvergne, where his father was a minor official. After a period as a profe ...

cabinet, but resigned office on 6 May 1899.

Prime Minister of France

Charles de Freycinet Vanity Fair 18 April 1891

1st Ministry

* Charles de Freycinet – President of the Council and

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 Joseph Frédéric Farre – Minister of War * Charles Lepère –

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 ...

and Worship * Pierre Magnin –

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", ...

Jules Cazot Jules-Théodore-Joseph Cazot (11 February 1821 – 27 November 1912) was a French politician of the French Third Republic. He was a member of the National Assembly of 1871. He was a senator for life from 1875 until his death. He was minister of j ...

–

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 ...

Jean Bernard Jauréguiberry Jean may refer to: People * Jean (female given name) * Jean (male given name) * Jean (surname) Fictional characters * Jean Grey, a Marvel Comics character * Jean Valjean, fictional character in novel ''Les Misérables'' and its adaptations * Je ...

– Minister of Marine and Colonies *

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 ...

– Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts * Henri Varroy – Minister of Public Works * Adolphe Cochery – Minister of Posts and Telegraphs *

– Minister of Agriculture and Commerce ; Changes * 17 May 1880 –

Ernest Constans Jean Antoine Ernest Constans (3 May 1833 – 7 April 1913) was a French politician and colonial administrator. Biography Born in Béziers, Hérault, he began his career as professor of law. In 1876 he was elected deputy for Toulouse to the F ...

succeeds Lepère as Minister of the Interior and Worship.

2nd Ministry

* Charles de Freycinet – President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs *

Jean-Baptiste Billot Jean-Baptiste Billot (15 August 1828, Chaumeil, Corrèze – 31 May 1907, Paris) was a French general and politician. Life Jean-Baptiste Billot entered the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr in 1847, and on leaving it in 1849 joined the ...

– Minister of War * René Goblet – Minister of the Interior *

Léon Say Jean-Baptiste-Léon Say (6 June 1826, Paris – 21 April 1896, Paris) was a French statesman and diplomat. One of the 19th-century's noted economists, he served as French Finance Minister from 1872 until 1883. Biography The Say family is a mos ...

– Minister of Finance * Gustave Humbert – Minister of Justice and Worship *

– Minister of Marine and Colonies *

– Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts *

François de Mahy François Césaire de Mahy (22 July 1830, Saint-Pierre, Réunion – 19 November 1906, Paris) was a French politician. Biography He was born in Saint-Pierre into a family of notables whose father was elected mayor of the city in 1841. The y ...

– Minister of Agriculture * Henri Varroy – Minister of Public Works * Adolphe Cochery – Minister of Posts and Telegraphs *

– Minister of Commerce

3rd Ministry

* Charles de Freycinet – President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs * Georges Boulanger – Minister of War *

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 the Interior *

– 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 ...

– Minister of Justice *

Théophile Aube Hyacinthe Laurent Théophile Aube () (22 November 1826, Toulon, Var – 31 December 1890, Toulon) was a French admiral, who held several important governmental positions during the Third Republic. Aube served as Governor of Martinique between 187 ...

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

Jules Develle Jules Develle (12 April 1845 – 30 October 1919) was a French politician. Biography He was born in Bar-le-Duc to Claude Charles Develle, an insurance agent, and Anne Marguerite Rousselot. He studied law and became a lawyer. He discovered his pa ...

– Minister of Agriculture * Charles Baïhaut – Minister of Public Works * Félix Granet – Minister of Posts and Telegraphs *

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 Commerce and Industry ; Changes * 4 November 1886 – Édouard Millaud succeeds Baïhaut as Minister of Public Works

4th Ministry

* Charles de Freycinet – President of the Council and Minister of War *

– Minister of Foreign Affairs *

– Minister of the Interior * Maurice Rouvier – Minister of Finance *

Armand Fallières Clément Armand Fallières (; 6 November 1841 – 22 June 1931) was a French statesman who was President of France from 1906 to 1913. He was born at Mézin in the ''département'' of Lot-et-Garonne, France, where his father was clerk of ...

– Minister of Justice and Worship *

Jules Roche Jules Roche (22 May 1841, Saint-Étienne - 8 April 1923) was a French politician. He was a member of the Chamber of Deputies from 1881 to 1919. He was Minister of Commerce and Industry from 1890 to 1892. Originally a member of the Republican Uni ...

– Minister of the Colonies and of Commerce and Industry *

Édouard Barbey Edouard Barbey (2 September 1831, Béziers Béziers (; oc, Besièrs) is a subprefecture of the Hérault department in the Occitanie region of Southern France. Every August Béziers hosts the famous ''Feria de Béziers'', which is centred on ...

– 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 *

– Minister of Agriculture *

Yves Guyot Yves Guyot (6 September 184322 February 1928) was a French politician and economist. Biography He was born at Dinan. Educated at Rennes, he took up the profession of journalism, coming to Paris in 1867. He was for a short period editor-in-chief of ...

– Minister of Public Works

Publications

* (1858) * (1860, revised ed., 1881) * (1861) * (1869) * (1870) * (1870) * (1896) * (1905) * ''Contemporain'': 'Pensées'' contributed under the pseudonym of Alceste"

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Freycinet, Charles De École Polytechnique alumni Mines ParisTech alumni Corps des mines 1828 births 1923 deaths Burials at Passy Cemetery People from Foix French Protestants Members of the Académie Française Politicians of the French Third Republic Prime Ministers of France Officiers of the Légion d'honneur Prefects of France Prefects of Tarn-et-Garonne French Ministers of War 19th-century Protestants 20th-century Protestants Senators of Seine (department)