born April 2, 1838, Cahors, France
died Dec. 31, 1882, Ville-d'Avray, near Paris
French republican statesman who helped found the Third Republic .
He became famous as a lawyer defending republican critics of the Second Empire and was elected to the legislative assembly in 1869. He helped direct the defense of France during the Franco-Prussian War and played a principal role in the provisional government formed after Napoleon III 's capture in 1870. He used his persuasive skill to push for ratification of the Constitutional Laws of 1875 , which became the basis of the new parliamentary republic. As president of the Chamber of Deputies (1879–81) and premier (1881–82), he continued his advocacy of democratic ideals and national unity.
Gambetta, photograph by Étienne Carjat; in the Bibliothéque Nationale, Paris
By courtesy of the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris