born Jan. 30, 1841, Paris, France
died Feb. 16, 1899, Paris
President of the French Third Republic (1895–99).
A successful industrialist in Le Havre, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies (1881). After serving in several cabinet posts, he was elected president of France in an unexpected victory that was a rebuff to the political left. He opposed reopening the case of Alfred Dreyfus , the dominating issue of his presidency, and his position encouraged agitation from both left and right political factions. He died suddenly, and his funeral was the scene of a confrontation between pro-and anti-Dreyfus groups.