The Kingdom of France emerged after the Treaty of Verdun of 843, after the division
of the ancient Frankish Empire.
The Kingdom lasted until 1793 when the First French Republic was proclaimed.
Later France however again became a monarchy - ruled by Kings (1814 - 1815, 1815 -
1848) or Emperors (1804 - 1814, 1815 and since 1852) - and except for the period
of the Second Republic in 1848 - 1852 it remained so until 1870, when following the
defeats of Emperor Napoleon III against the Germans, the Republicans seized power
and proclaimed once again a Republic. (1)
In 1870 - 1873 and again in 1914 - 1918 parts of France were occupied by Germany.
The French Republic ended when the German once again invaded the country in 1940.
(1) For Royal and Bonapartist pretenders after 1870 see here.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Government of National Defense(2)
Gouvernement de Défence nationale
1870 - 1871 -Louis Jules Trochu (president) 1815 - 1896
-Gabriel Claude Jules Favre (vice president) 1809 - 1880
-François Victor Emmanuel Arago 1812 - 1896
-Isaac Adolphe Crémieux 1796 - 1880
-Jules François Camille Ferry (in 1870) 1832 - 1893
-Léon Michel Gambetta 1838 - 1882
-Louis Antoine Garnier-Pagès 1803 - 1878
-Alexandre Olivier Glais de Bizoin
"Glais-Bizoin" 1800 - 1877
-Pierre Clément Eugène Pelletan 1813 - 1884
-Louis Joseph Ernest Picard 1821 - 1877
-Victor Henri, Marquis de Rochefort-Luçay
"Henri Rochefort" (in 1870) 1830 - 1913
-François Simon Jules Suisse "Jules Simon" 1814 - 1896
Presidents of the National Assembly
Présidents de l'Assemblée nationale
1871 Denis Emmanuel, Comte Benoist d'Azy* 1796 - 1880
1871 François Jules Paul Grévy 1807 - 1891
Chief of the Executive Power of the Republic
Chef du Pouvoir exécutif de la République
1871 Louis Adolphe Thiers (3) 1797 - 1877
Presidents
Présidents
1871 - 1873 Louis Adolphe Thiers s.a.
1873 - 1879 Marie Edme Patrice Maurice Mac-Mahon, Comte
de Mac-Mahon, Duc de Magenta 1808 - 1893
1879 Jules Armand Stanislas Dufaure* 1798 - 1881
1879 - 1887 François Paul Jules Grévy, resigned s.a.
1887 Maurice Rouvier* 1842 - 1911
1887 - 1894 Marie François Sadi Carnot, assassinated 1837 - 1894
1894 Charles Alexandre Dupuy* 1851 - 1923
1894 - 1895 Jean Paul Pierre Casimir-Périer, resigned 1847 - 1907
1895 Charles Alexandre Dupuy* (2x)
1895 - 1899 François Félix Faure 1841 - 1899
1899 Charles Alexandre Dupuy* (3x)
1899 - 1906 François Émile Loubet 1838 - 1929
1906 - 1913 Clément Armand Fallières 1841 - 1931
1913 - 1920 Raymond Poincaré 1860 - 1934
1920 Paul Deschanel, resigned 1855 - 1922
1920 - 1924 Étienne Alexandre Millerand, resigned 1859 - 1943
1924 Frédéric François-Marsal* 1874 - 1958
1924 - 1931 Gaston Doumergue 1863 - 1937
1931 - 1932 Paul Doumer, assassinated 1857 - 1932
1932 André Tardieu* 1876 - 1945
1932 - 1940 Albert Lebrun, resigned after the French
defeat against the Germans 1871 - 1950
(2) As a consequence of the German encirclement of Paris the government only
controled the city and many departments - especially in the South - in
fact acted as they liked. It was in order to impose its authority on
these departments and to organize their defence against a further German
advance that part of the government moved first to Tours and later to
Bordeaux.
Delegation at Tours, later Bordeaux
1870 - 1871 -Isaac Adolphe Crémieux s.a.
-Léon Michel Gambetta s.a.
-Alexandre Olivier Glais de Bizoin
"Glais-Bizoin" s.a.
-VAdm. Martin Fourichon 1809 - 1884
(3) The government of Thiers was briefly contested by the Commune
__________________________________________________________________________________
Prime MinistersPresidents of the Council of MinistersPrésidents du Conseil des Ministres
1871 - 1876 The Heads of State (in name only)
Vice Presidents of the Council of Ministers
(Vice Présidents du Conseil des Ministres)
1871 - 1873 Jules Armand Stanislas Dufaure s.a.
1873 - 1874 Jacques Victor Albert, Duc de
Broglie et Prince du Saint
Empire Romain 1821 - 1901
1874 - 1875 Gen. Ernest Louis Octave
Courtot de Cissey 1810 - 1882
1875 - 1876 Louis Joseph Buffet 1818 - 1898
1876 Jules Armand Stanislas Dufaure
(2x)
1876 Jules Armand Stanislas Dufaure s.a.
1876 - 1877 François Simon Jules Suisse "Jules Simon" s.a.
1877 Jacques Victor Albert, Duc de
Broglie et Prince du Saint Empire
Romain s.a.
1877 Gen. Caïetan de Grimaudet de Rochebouët 1813 - 1899
1877 - 1879 Jules Armand Stanislas Dufaure (2x)
1879 William Henry Waddington 1826 - 1894
1879 - 1880 Charles Louis de Saulces de Freycinet 1828 - 1923
1880 - 1881 Jules François Camille Ferry s.a.
1881 - 1882 Léon Michel Gambetta s.a.
1882 Charles Louis de Saulces de Freycinet (2x)
1882 - 1883 Charles Théodore Eugène Duclerc 1813 - 1888
1883 Clément Armand Fallières s.a.
1883 - 1885 Jules François Camille Ferry (2x)
1885 - 1886 Eugène Henri Brisson 1835 - 1912
1886 Charles Louis de Saulces de Freycinet (3x)
1886 - 1887 René Goblet 1828 - 1905
1887 Mautice Rouvier s.a.
1887 - 1888 Pierre Emmanuel Tirard 1827 - 1893
1888 - 1889 Charles Thomas Floquet 1828 - 1896
1889 - 1890 Pierre Emmanuel Tirard (2x)
1890 - 1892 Charles Louis de Saulces de Freycinet (4x)
1892 François Émile Loubet s.a.
1892 - 1893 Alexandre Félix Joseph Ribot 1842 - 1923
1893 Charles Alexandre Dupuy s.a.
1893 - 1894 Jean Paul Pierre Casimir-Périer s.a.
1894 - 1895 Charles Alexandre Dupuy (2x)
1895 Alexandre Félix Joseph Ribot (2x)
1895 - 1896 Léon Bourgeois 1851 - 1925
1896 - 1898 Félix Jules Méline 1838 - 1925
1898 Eugène Henri Brisson (2x)
1898 - 1899 Charles Alexandre Dupuy (3x)
1899 - 1902 Pierre Marie Waldeck-Rousseau 1846 - 1904
1902 - 1905 Émile Combes 1935 - 1921
1905 - 1906 Maurice Rouvier (2x)
1906 Jean Marie Ferdinand Sarrien 1840 - 1915
1906 - 1909 Georges Clémenceau 1841 - 1929
1909 - 1911 Aristide Briand 1862 - 1932
1911 Antoine Emmanuel Ernest Monis 1846 - 1929
1911 - 1912 Joseph Caillaux 1863 - 1934
1912 - 1913 Raymond Poincaré s.a.
1913 Aristide Briand (2x)
1913 Louis Barthou 1862 - 1934
1913 - 1914 Gaston Doumergue s.a.
1914 Alexandre Félix Jospeh Ribot (3x)
1914 - 1915 René Viviani 1863 - 1925
1915 - 1917 Aristide Briand (3x)
1917 Alexandre Félix Joseph Ribot (4x)
1917 Paul Painlevé 1863 - 1933
1917 - 1920 Georges Clémenceau (2x)
1920 Étienne Alexandre Millerand s.a.
1920 - 1921 Georges Leygues 1858 - 1933
1921 - 1922 Aristide Briand (4x)
1922 - 1924 Raymond Poincaré (2x)
1924 Frédéric François-Marsal s.a.
1924 - 1925 Édouard Herriot 1872 - 1957
1925 Paul Painlevé (2x)
1925 - 1926 Aristide Briand (5x)
1926 Édouard Herriot (2x)
1926 - 1929 Raymond Poincaré (3x)
1929 Aristide Briand (6x)
1929 - 1930 André Tardieu s.a.
1930 Camille Chautemps 1885 - 1963
1930 André Tardieu (2x)
1930 - 1931 Théodore Steeg 1868 - 1950
1931 - 1932 Pierre Laval 1883 - 1945
1932 André Tardieu (3x)
1932 Édouard Herriot (3x)
1932 - 1933 Joseph Paul-Boncour 1873 - 1972
1933 Édouard Daladier 1884 - 1970
1933 Albert-Pierre Sarraut 1872 - 1962
1933 - 1934 Camille Chautemps (2x)
1934 Édouard Daladier (2x)
1934 Gaston Doumergue (2x)
1934 - 1935 Pierre Étienne Flandin 1889 - 1958
1935 Fernand Bouisson 1874 - 1959
1935 - 1936 Pierre Laval (2x)
1936 Albert-Pierre Sarraut (2x)
1936 - 1937 Léon Blum 1872 - 1950
1937 - 1938 Camille Chautemps (3x)
1938 Léon Blum (2x)
1938 - 1940 Édouard Daladier (3x)
1940 Paul Reynaud 1878 - 1966
1940 Marsh. of France Henri Philippe
Bénoni Omer Joseph Pétain 1856 - 1951
Ministers for the Coordinaton of the Offices at the
Presidency of the Council
Ministres pour la Coordination des Services à la
Présidence du Conseil
1938 Vincent Auriol 1884 - 1966
1938 - 1940 Camille Chautemps s.a.
Under Secretaries of State at the Presidency of the CouncilSous-Secrétaires d'État à la Présidence du Conseil
(Also in charge of Alsace-Lorraine until 1925)
1920 - 1921 Charles Reibel 1882 - 1956
1921 - 1922 Louis Théodore Richard Tissier 1866 -
1922 Maurice Jean Charles Colrat
de Montrozier 1871 - 1954
1922 - 1925 none
1925 Georges Étienne Bonnet, last
to be in charge of Alsace-
Lorraine 1889 - 1973
1925 Aimé Adrien Maxime Berthod 1878 - 1944
1925 - 1926 Pierre Laval s.a.
1926 Charles Daniélou 1887 - 1953
1926 - 1929 none
1929 - 1930 Marcel Héraud 1883 - 1960
1930 Aimé Adrien Maxime Berthod (2x)
1930 Marcel Héraud (2x)
1930 - 1931 Paul Marchandeau 1882 - 1968
1931 André François-Poncet 1887 - 1978
1931 - 1932 Charles Joseph Gignoux 1890 - 1968
1932 -Pierre Cathala 1885 - 1947
-Maurice Petsche 1895 - 1951
1932 Paul Marchandeau (2x)
1932 - 1933 Eugène Frot 1893 - 1983
1933 Guy La Chambre 1898 - 1975
1933 André Désiré Paul Marie 1897 - 1974
1933 - 1934 Philippe Marcombes 1877 - 1935
1934 Léon Martinaud-Déplat 1899 - 1969
1934 none
1934 - 1935 Alfred Pierre Joseph
Charles Pérreau-Pradier 1885 - 1969
1935 Pierre Cathala (2x)
1935 - 1936 Camille Charles Auguste Blaisot 1881 - 1945
1936 Jean Zay 1904 - 1944
1936 - 1937 -Marx Dormoy (in 1936) 1889 - 1941
-Jules François Amand Delphin
Dortet de L'Espigarie de
Tessan 1883 - 1944
-Jules Moch (in 1937) 1893 - 1985
1937 - 1938 William Bertrand 1881 - 1961
1938 Émile Laurens 1884 - 1940
1938 -André Louis Février 1885 - 1961
-Jules François Amand Delphin
Dortet de L'Espigarie de
Tessan (2x)
1938 - 1940 none
1940 Paul Baudouin, Secretary of the
War Cabinet 1894 - 1964
1940 Raphaël Alibert 1886 - 1963
Under Secretaries of State of National Economy
1930 - 1934 See here
Under Secretary of State of the Offices of Immigration
and Foreignerss
Sous-Secrétaire d'État aux Services de l'Immigration et
des Étrangers
1938 Philippe Serre 1901 - 1991
Under Secretary of State of the Office of Refugees
Sous-Secrétaire d'État au Service de Refugiés
1940 Robert Schuman 1886 - 1963
Vice Presidents of the CouncilVice-Présidents du Conseil
1926 Joseph Caillaux, also Minister of
Finances s.a.
1926 - 1930 none
1930 Théodore Steeg, also Minister of Justice s.a.
1930 - 1932 none
1932 Léon Bérard, also Minister of Justice 1876 - 1960
1932 Paul Reynaud, also Minister of Justice s.a.
1932 René Renoult, also Minister of Justice 1869 - 1946
1932 - 1933 Abel Gardey, also Minister of Justice 1882 - 1967
1933 Eugène Pénancier, also Minister of Justice 1873 - 1955
1933 Albert Dalimier, also Minister of Justice 1875 - 1936
1933 - 1934 none
1934 Henri Chéron, also Minister of Justice 1867 - 1936
1934 - 1936 none
1936 - 1937 Édouard Daladier, also Minister of National
Defence and War s.a.
1937 - 1938 Léon Blum s.a.
1938 Édouard Daladier, also Minister of National
Defence (and War) (2x)
1938 - 1940 Camille Chautemps, also Minister for the
Coordinaton of the Offices at the
Presidency of the Council s.a.
1940 -Camille Chautemps, also Minister for the
Coordinaton of the Offices at the
Presidency of the Council (2x)
-Marsh. of France Henri Philippe
Bénoni Omer Joseph Pétain s.a.
1940 -Camille Chautemps (3x)
-Pierre Laval s.a.
Ministers of State
Ministres d'État
1915 - 1916 -Léon Bourgeois s.a.
-Denys Cochin, coordinator of the
services in charge of the Blockade
(see also below) 1851 - 1922
-Émile Combes s.a.
-Charles Louis de Saulces de Freycinet s.a.
-Basile "Jules" Guesde, Minister without
Portfolio 1914 - 1915 1847 - 1922
1916 - 1917 none
1917 -Louis Barthou s.a.
-Léon Bourgeois (2x)
-Paul Doumer s.a.
-Jean Dupuy 1844 - 1919
-Henri Franklin-Bouillon 1870 - 1937
1917 - 1934 none
1934 -Édouard Herriot s.a.
-André Tardieu s.a.
1934 - 1935 -Édouard Herriot (2x)
-Louis Marin 1871 - 1960
1935 -Édouard Herriot (3x)
-Louis Marin (2x)
-Marsh. of France Henri Philippe
Bénoni Omer Joseph Pétain s.a.
1935 - 1936 -Pierre Etiènne Flandin s.a.
-Édouard Herriot (4x)
-Louis Marin (3x)
1936 Joseph Paul-Boncour, Permanent
Delegate to the League of Nations s.a.
1936 - 1937 -Camille Chautemps s.a.
-Paul Faure 1878 - 1960
-Maurice Viollette 1870 - 1960
1937 - 1938 -Albert Pierre Sarraut s.a.
-Paul Faure (2x)
-Maurice Viollette (2x)
1938 -Ludovic Oscar Frossard 1889 - 1946
-Georges Étienne Bonnet s.a.
1938 -Théodore Steeg s.a.
-Albert Pierre Sarraut (2x)
-Maurice Viollette (3x)
-Paul Faure (3x)
1938 - 1940 none
1940 -Marsh. of France Henri Philippe
Bénoni Omer Joseph Pétain, also
Vice President of the Council s.a.
-Louis Marin (4x)
-Jean Ybarnegaray 1883 - 1956
1940 -Camille Chautemps (2x), also Vice
President of the Council s.a.
-Pierre Laval, also Vice President of
the Council s.a.
-Adrien Marquet 1884 - 1955
Ministers of Foreign Affairs
Ministres aux Affaires étrangères
1870 - 1871 Gabriel Claude Jules Favre s.a.
1871 - 1873 Charles, Comte de Remusat 1797 - 1875
1873 Jacques Victor Albert, Duc de
Broglie et Prince du Saint Empire
Romain s.a.
1873 - 1877 Louis Charles Elie Amanieu, Duc Décazes
et Glücksberg 1819 - 1886
1877 Gaston Robert Marie, Marquis de
Banneville 1818 - 1881
1877 - 1879 William Henry Waddington s.a.
1879 - 1880 Charles Louis de Saulces de Freycinet s.a.
1880 - 1881 Jules Barthélemy Saint-Hilaire 1805 - 1892
1881 - 1882 Léon Michel Gambetta s.a.
1882 Charles Louis de Saulces de Freycinet (2x)
1882 - 1883 Charles Théodore Eugène Duclerc s.a.
1883 Clément Armand Fallières* s.a.
1883 Paul Armand Challemel-Lacour 1827 - 1896
1883 - 1885 Jules François Camille Ferry s.a.
1885 - 1886 Charles Louis de Saulces de Freycinet (3x)
1886 - 1888 Émile Flourens 1841 - 1920
1888 - 1889 René Goblet s.a.
1889 - 1890 Jacques Eugène Spuller 1835 - 1896
1890 - 1893 Alexandre Félix Joseph Ribot s.a.
1893 Jules Paul Develle 1845 - 1919
1893 - 1894 Jean Paul Pierre Casimir-Périer s.a.
1894 - 1895 Gabriel Hanotaux 1853 - 1944
1895 - 1896 Pierre Eugène Marcellin Berthelot 1827 - 1907
1896 Léon Bourgeois s.a.
1896 - 1898 Gabriel Hanotaux (2x)
1898 - 1905 Théophile Delcassé 1852 - 1923
1905 - 1906 Maurice Rouvier s.a.
1906 Léon Bourgeois (2x)
1906 - 1911 Stéphen Pichon 1854 - 1933
1911 Jean Cruppi 1855 - 1933
1911 - 1912 Justin de Selves 1848 - 1934
1912 - 1913 Raymond Poincaré s.a.
1913 Camille Célestin Charles Jonnart 1857 - 1927
1913 Stephen Pichon (2x)
1913 - 1914 Gaston Doumergue s.a.
1914 Léon Bourgeois (3x)
1914 René Viviani s.a.
1914 - 1915 Gaston Doumergue (2x)
1915 Théophile Delcassé (2x)
1915 René Viviani (2x)
1915 - 1917 Aristide Briand s.a.
1917 Alexandre Félix Joseph Ribot (2x)
1917 Louis Barthou s.a.
1917 - 1920 Stephen Pichon (3x)
1920 Étienne Alexandre Millerand s.a.
1920 - 1921 Georges Leygues s.a.
1921 - 1922 Aristide Briand (2x)
1922 - 1924 Raymond Poincaré (2x)
1924 Édouard Joseph Charles Marie Lefebvre
du Prey 1866 - 1955
1924 - 1925 Édouard Herriot s.a.
1925 - 1926 Aristide Briand (3x)
1926 Édouard Herriot (2x)
1926 - 1932 Aristide Briand (4x)
1932 Pierre Laval s.a.
1932 André Tardieu s.a.
1932 Édouard Herriot (3x)
1932 - 1934 Joseph Paul-Boncour s.a.
1934 Édouard Daladier s.a.
1934 Louis Barthou (2x)
1934 Gaston Doumergue* (3x)
1934 - 1936 Pierre Laval (2x)
1936 Pierre Étienne Flandin s.a.
1936 - 1938 Yves Delbos 1885 - 1956
1938 Joseph Paul-Boncour (2x)
1938 - 1939 Georges Étienne Bonnet s.a.
1939 - 1940 Édouard Daladier (2x)
1940 Paul Reynaud s.a.
1940 Édouard Daladier (3x)
1940 Paul Reynaud (2x)
1940 Paul Baudouin s.a.
Under Secretaries of State
(Sous-Secrétaires d'État)
1880 - 1881 Horace Eugène Antoine Praslin
de Choiseul 1837 - 1915
1881 - 1882 Jacques Eugène Spuller s.a.
1882 - 1914 none
1914 - 1915 Abel Jules Édouard Ferry 1881 - 1918
1915 - 1926 none
1926 Basaleel Albert Milhaud 1871 - 1956
1926 - 1932 none
1932 Joseph Paganon 1880 - 1937
1932 - 1933 Pierre Jules Cot 1895 - 1977
1933 none
1933 - 1934 Jules François Amand Delphin
Dortet de L'Espigarie de
Tessan s.a.
1934 André Désiré Paul Marie s.a.
1934 - 1936 none
1936 - 1937 Pierre Viènot 1897 - 1944
1937 - 1938 Jules François Amand Delphin
Dortet de L'Espigarie de
Tessan (2x)
1938 - 1939 none
1939 - 1940 Auguste Champetier de Ribes 1882 - 1947
1940 none
1940 Paul Baudouin s.a.
1940 none
Under Secretaries of State of the Blockade
(Sous-Secrétaires d'État au Blocus)
1916 - 1917 Denys Cochin s.a.
1917 Émile Georges Albert Métin 1871 - 1918
(Became a separate ministry - s.b.)
Ministers of Propaganda and Information
Ministres à la Propagande et à l'Information
1938 Ludovic Oscar Frossard (Minister of
Propaganda) s.a.
1938 - 1940 none
1940 Ludovic Oscar Frossard (Minister of
Information) s.a.
1940 Jean Prouvost (Minister of Information) 1885 - 1978
1940 none
Under Secretary of State
Sous-Secrétaire d'État)
1940 Albert Louis Février s.a.
1940 none
Ministers of Defence (and related affairs)
Ministers of WarMinistres à la Guerre
187O - 1871 Gen. Adolphe Charles Emmanuel Le Flô 1804 - 1887
1871 - 1873 Gen. Ernest Louis Octave Courtot de
Cissey s.a.
1873 - 1874 Gen. François Charles du Barrail 1820 - 1902
1874 - 1876 Gen. Ernest Louis Octave Courtot de
Cissey (2x)
1876 - 1877 Gen. Jean Auguste Berthaut 1817 - 1881
1877 Gen. Caïetan de Grimaudet de Rochebouët s.a.
1877 - 1879 Gen. Jean Louis Borel 1819 - 1884
1879 Gen. Henri François Xavier Gresley 1819 - 1890
1879 - 1881 Gen. Jean Joseph Frédéric Adolphe Farre 1818 - 1887
1881 - 1882 Gen. Jean Baptiste Marie Édouard Campenon 1819 - 1891
1882 - 1883 Gen. Jean Baptiste Billot 1822 - 1907
1883 Gen. Jean Thibaudin 1822 - 1905
1883 - 1885 Gen. Jean Baptiste Marie Édouard Campenon (2x)
1885 Gen. Jules Louis Lewal 1823 - 1908
1885 Gen. Jean Baptiste Marie Édouard Campenon (3x)
1886 - 1887 Gen. Georges Ernest Jean Marie Boulanger 1837 - 1891
1887 Gen. Théophile Adrien Ferron 1830 - 1894
1887 - 1888 Gen. François Auguste Logerot 1825 - 1913
1888 - 1893 Charles Louis de Saulces de Freycinet s.a.
1893 Gen. Jules Léon Loizillon 1829 - 1896
1893 - 1895 Gen. Auguste Mercier 1833 - 1921
1895 Gen. Émile Auguste François Thomas Zurlinden 1837 - 1929
1895 - 1896 Godefroy Cavaignac 1853 - 1905
1896 - 1898 Gen. Jean Baptiste Billot (2x)
1898 Godefroy Cavaignac (2x)
1898 Gen. Émile Auguste François Thomas Zurlinden
(2x)
1898 Gen. Charles Sulpice Jules Chanoine 1835 - 1915
1898 Édouard Étienne Antoine Simon "Lockroy" 1840 - 1913
1898 - 1899 Charles Louis de Saulces de Freycinet (2x)
1899 VAdm. Charles Camille Julien Krantz 1848 - 1914
1899 - 1900 Gen. Gaston Alexandre Auguste,
Marquis de Galliffet 1830 - 1909
1900 - 1904 Gen. Louis André 1838 - 1913
1904 - 1905 Maurice Berteaux 1852 - 1911
1905 - 1906 Eugène Étienne 1844 - 1921
1906 - 1909 Gen. Georges Picquart 1854 - 1914
1909 - 1911 Gen. Jean Jules Brun 1849 - 1911
1911 Aristide Briand* s.a.
1911 Maurice Berteaux (2x)
1911 Gen. François Louis Auguste Goiran 1847 - 1927
1911 - 1912 Adolphe Messimy 1869 - 1935
1912 - 1913 Étienne Alexandre Millerand s.a.
1913 Albert Lebrun s.a.
1913 Eugène Étienne (2x)
1913 - 1914 Joseph Noulens 1864 - 1944
1914 Théophile Delcassé s.a.
1914 Adolphe Messimy (2x)
1914 - 1915 Étienne Alexandre Millerand (2x)
1915 - 1916 Gen. Joseph Simon Gallieni 1849 - 1916
1916 Gen. Pierre Auguste Roques 1857 - 1920
1916 - 1917 Gen. Louis Hubert Gonzalve Lyautey 1854 - 1934
1917 CAdm. Marie Jean Lucien Lacaze* 1860 - 1955
1917 Paul Painlevé s.a.
1917 - 1920 Georges Clémenceau s.a.
1920 André Lefèvre 1869 - 1929
1920 - 1921 Flaminius, Baron Raiberti 1862 - 1929
1921 - 1922 Louis Barthou s.a.
1922 - 1924 André Maginot, also Minister of Pensions 1877 - 1932
1924 - 1925 Gen. Charles Nollet 1865 - 1941
1925 Paul Painlevé (2x)
1925 Édouard Daladier s.a.
1925 - 1926 Paul Painlevé (3x)
1926 Gen. Adolphe Guillaumat 1863 - 1940
1926 - 1929 Paul Painlevé (4x)
1929 - 1930 André Maginot (2x)
1930 René Henri Besnard 1879 - 1952
1930 André Maginot (3x)
1930 - 1931 Louis Barthou (2x)
1931 - 1932 André Maginot (4x)
1932 André Tardieu s.a.
1932 none (see below)
1932 Joseph Paul-Boncour s.a.
1932 - 1934 Édouard Daladier (2x)
1934 Jean Fabry, also Minister of National
Defence 1876 - 1968
1934 Joseph Paul-Boncour, also Minister of
National Defence (2x)
1934 Marsh. of France Henri Philippe
Bénoni Omer Joseph Pétain s.a.
1934 - 1935 Gen. Louis Félix Thomas Maurin 1869 - 1956
1935 - 1936 Jean Fabry (2x)
1936 Gen. Louis Félix Thomas Maurin (2x)
1936 - 1940 Édouard Daladier (3x), also Minister of
National Defence
1940 Paul Reynaud, also Minister of National
Defence s.a.
1940 Gen. Louis Antoine Colson 1875 - 1951
Under Secretaries of State
(Sous-Secrétaires d'État)
1871 - 1873 Gen. Charles Letellier-Vallazé 1812 - 1876
1873 - 1881 none
1881 - 1882 Eugène Louis Nazaire Blandin 1830 - 1898
1882 - 1883 none
1883 - 1885 Jean Paul Pierre Casimir-Périer s.a.
1885 - 1886 Godefroy Cavaignac s.a.
1886 - 1906 none
1906 - 1909 Henry Chéron s.a.
1909 - 1910 Albert Pierre Sarraut s.a.
1910 - 1911 Joseph Noulens s.a.
1911 - 1913 none
1913 - 1914 André Maginot s.a.
1914 Alfred Margaine 1870 - 1953
1914 Jean Octave Lauraine 1864 - 1934
1914 - 1917 none (see below)
1917 - 1920 Jules Émile Jeanneney 1864 - 1957
1920 - 1925 none
1925 - 1926 Jean Ossola 1881 - 1932
1926 Col. Yves Émile Picot 1862 - 1938
1926 Jacques Louis Dumesnil 1882 - 1956
1926 - 1929 none
1929 - 1930 Maurice Petsche 1895 - 1951
1930 Charles Marius Lambert 1883 - 1972
1930 Humbert Ricolfi 1886 - 1959
1930 Léon Joseph Auguste Millot 1881 - 1960
1930 - 1932 none
1932 - 1933 Guy La Chambre s.a.
1933 Gaston Pierre Hulin 1882 - 1944
1933 none
1933 - 1934 Guy La Chambre (2x)
1934 - 1939 none
1939 - 1940 Hippolyte Roc Aristide Ducos,
also of National Defence 1881 - 1970
1940 Gen. Charles André Marie
Joseph de Gaulle, also of
National Defence 1890 - 1970
1940 none
Under Secretary of State of Artillery and Military Equipment
(Sous-Secrétaire d'État à l'Artillerie et à l'Equipement
militaire)
1915 - 1916 Albert Thomas 1878 - 1932
Under Secretary of State of Supply and Military Intendency
(Sous-Secrétaire d'État au Ravitaillement et à l'Intendance
militaire)
1915 - 1916 Joseph Thierry 1857 - 1918
Under Secretaries of State of the Military Health Service
(Sous-Secrétaires d'État au Service de Santé militaire)
1915 - 1918 François Pierre Marie Justin
Godart 1871 -
1918 - 1920 Louis Mourier
Under Secretaries of State of the Military Aeronautic
See below
Under Secretaries of State of General Administration
(Sous-Secrétaires d'État à l'Administration générale)
1916 - 1917 René Henri Besnard s.a.
1917 - 1918 Louis Mourier s.a.
1918 - 1920 Léon Abrami 1879 - 1939
Under Secretary of State of Inventions, Studies and Technical
Experiences related to National Defence
(Sous-Secrétaire d'État aux Inventions, Études et Expériences
intéressant la Defense nationale)
(Transferred from the Ministry of Armament and War Fabrications -
s.b.)
1917 Jean Louis Breton
Under Secretaries of State of Pensions
See below
Under Secretary of State of Military Justice
(Sous-Secrétaire d'État à la Justice militaire)
1917 - 1920 Édouard Ignace 1862 - 1924
Under Secretary of State of Demobilization
(Sous-Secrétaire d'État à la Démobilisation)
1918 - 1919 Louis Deschamps
Ministers of the NavyMinistres de la Marine
[(Col) = Ministers of the Navy and of Colonies (Ministres à la Marine et aux
Colonies) also in charge of most of the Oversea Dependencies 1860 - 1881, 1882 -
1889 and 1892 - 1893]
[Also in charge of the Merchant Marine 1870 - 1916]
1870 - 1871 VAdm. Martin Fourichon (Col) s.a.
1871 - 1873 VAdm. Louis Pierre Alexis Pothuau (Col) 1815 - 1882
1873 - 1874 VAdm. Charles Marius Albert de
Dompierre d'Hornoy (Col) 1816 - 1901
1874 - 1876 CAdm. Louis Raymond de Montaignac
de Chauvance (Col) 1811 - 1891
1876 - 1877 VAdm. Martin Fournichon (2x) (Col)
1877 VAdm. Albert Auguste Gicquel des
Touches (Col) 1818 - 1901
1877 VAdm. Albert Edmond Louis, Baron
Roussin (Col) 1821 - 1896
1877 - 1879 VAdm. Louis Pierre Alexis Pothuau (2x) (Col)
1879 - 1880 VAdm. Jean Bernard Jauréguiberry (Col) 1815 - 1887
1880 - 1881 VAdm. Georges Charles Cloué (Col) 1817 - 1889
1881 - 1882 Auguste Gougeard 1827 - 1886
1882 - 1883 VAdm. Jean Bernard Jauréguiberry (2x) (Col)
1883 François de Mahy* (Col) 1830 - 1906
1883 Charles Brun (Col) 1821 - 1897
1883 - 1885 VAdm. Alexandre Louis François Peyron (Col) 1823 - 1892
1885 CAdm. Charles Eugène Galiber (Col) 1824 - 1909
1886 - 1887 CAdm. Théophile Aube (Col) 1826 - 1890
1887 Édouard Barbey (Col) 1831 - 1905
1887 - 1888 François de Mahy (2x) (Col)
1888 - 1889 VAdm. Jules François Emile Krantz (Col) s.a.
1889 VAdm. Louis Jean Benjamin Jaurès (Col) 1823 - 1889
1889 VAdm. Jules François Emile Krantz (2x)
1889 - 1892 Édouard Barbey (2x)
1892 Godefroy Cavaignac (Col) s.a.
1892 - 1893 Auguste Laurent Burdeau (Col) 1851 - 1894
1893 VAdm. Bartholomé Louis Henri Rieunier 1833 - 1918
1893 - 1894 VAdm. Auguste Alfred Lefèvre 1828 - 1907
1894 - 1895 François Félix Faure s.a.
1895 VAdm. Armand Louis Charles Gustave
Besnard 1833 - 1903
1895 - 1896 Édouard Étienne Antoine Simon "Lockroy" s.a.
1896 - 1898 VAdm. Armand Louis Charles Gustave
Besnard (2x)
1898 - 1899 Édouard Étienne Antoine Simon "Lockroy" (2x)
1899 - 1902 Jean-Marie Antoine de Lanessan 1843 - 1919
1902 - 1905 Camille Pelletan 1846 - 1915
1905 - 1908 Gaston Thomson 1848 - 1932
1908 - 1909 Alfred Picard 1844 - 1913
1909 - 1911 VAdm. Auguste Emmanuel Hubert Gaston
Boué de Lapeyrère 1852 - 1924
1911 - 1913 Théophile Delcassé s.a.
1913 Pierre Baudin 1862 - 1917
1913 - 1914 Ernest Monis s.a.
1914 Armand Gauthier de l'Aude 1850 - 1926
1914 François Émile Chautemps 1850 - 1918
1914 Armand Gauthier de l'Aude (2x)
1914 - 1915 Victor Augagneur 1855 - 1931
1915 - 1917 CAdm. Marie Jean Lucien Lacaze, last
minister also in charge of the Merchant
Marine (until 1916) s.a.
1917 Charles Chaumet 1856 - 1932
1917 - 1920 Georges Leygues s.a.
1920 - 1921 Adolphe Landry 1874 - 1956
1921 - 1922 Gabriel Henri Guist'hau 1865 - 1931
1922 - 1924 Flaminius, Baron Raiberti s.a.
1924 Maurice Bokanowski 1879 - 1928
1924 Désiré Ferry 1886 - 1940
1924 - 1925 Jacques Louis Dumesnil s.a.
1925 Émile Borel 1871 - 1956
1925 - 1926 Georges Leyges (2x)
1926 René Renoult 1867 - 1946
1926 - 1930 Georges Leygues (3x)
1930 Albert Maurice Sarraut s.a.
1930 Jacques Louis Dumesnil (2x)
1930 - 1931 Albert Maurice Sarraut (2x)
1931 - 1932 Charles Émile Étienne Dumont 1867 - 1939
1932 none (s.b.)
1932 - 1933 Georges Leygues (4x)
1933 - 1934 Albert Maurice Sarraut (3x)
1934 Louis de Chappedelaine 1876 - 1939
1934 - 1936 François Piétri 1882 - 1966
1936 - 1937 Alphonse Garnier-Duparc 1879 - 1945
1937 - 1938 César Campinghi 1882 - 1941
1938 William Bertrand 1881 - 1961
1938 - 1940 César Campinghi (2x)
1940 FleetAdm. Jean Louis Xavier François
Darlan, also Minister of the Merchant
Marine 1881 - 1942
Under Secretaries of State
(Sous-Secrétaires d'État)
1877 VAdm. Albert Edmond Louis,
Baron Roussin s.a.
1877 - 1888 none
1888 François Félix Faure s.a.
1888 - 1909 none
1909 - 1910 Henry Chéron s.a.
1910 - 1911 Gabriel Henri Guist'hau s.a.
1911 - 1917 none
1917 Jacques Louis Dumesnil s.a.
1917 - 1929 none
1929 - 1930 Maurice Deligne 1861 - 1939
1930 Robert Bellanger 1884 - 1966
1930 Alphonse Rio 1873 - 1949
1930 - 1931 Jacques Stern 1882 - 1949
1931 - 1932 Pierre Dignac 1876 - 1973
1932 - 1936 none
1936 - 1938 François Marie Blancho 1893 - 1972
1938 Maurice Marie Delom-Sobré 1898 - 1986
1938 François Marie Blancho (2x)
1938 - 1940 none
1940 Jean le Cour Grandmaison 1848 - 1901
1940 none
Under Secretaries of State of the Colonies
1882,
1883 - 1889
and
1892 - 1893 See hereDirectors of the Colonies
1870 - 1882
and
1882 - 1883 See hereUnder Secretaries of the Merchant Marine
1913 - 1916 See hereUnder Secretary of Submarine Warfare
(Sous-Secrétaire d'État à la Guerre sousmarine)
1917 - 1918 Jules Cels-Couybes 1865 - 1938
Ministers of the AirMinistres à l'Air
The Ministry of the Air was created in 1928 when the different aeronautic directions
of the ministries of the Colonies, of Commerce and Industry, of the Navy and of War
were placed under the authority of one minister. (4)
Although mainly concerned with military affairs - especially since 1934, when a
separate French Air Force was established - the Ministry also was in charge of the
civil aviation.
1928 - 1930 Laurent André Victor Eynac "Laurent-Eynac" 1886 - 1970
1930 - 1931 Paul Painlevé s.a.
1931 - 1932 Jacques Louis Dumesnil s.a.
1932 none (s.b.)
1932 - 1933 Paul Painlevé (2x)
1933 - 1934 Pierre Jules Cot s.a.
1934 - 1936 Gen. Victor Denain 1880 - 1952
1936 Marcel Déat 1894 - 1955
1936 - 1938 Piere Jules Cot (2x)
1938 - 1940 Guy La Chambre s.a.
1940 Laurent André Victor Eynac "Laurent-Eynac"(2x)
1940 Gen. Bertrand Pujo 1878 - 1964
Under Secretaries of State
(Sous-Secrétaires d'État)
1931 - 1932 Étienne Riché 1883 - 1934
1932 none
1932 - 1933 Paul Marie Bernier 1868 - 1957
1933 none
1933 - 1934 Charles Delesalle 1886 - 1973
1934 - 1937 none
1937 - 1938 Henri Francisque Andraud 1895 - 1949
1938 - 1940 none
Under Secretary of State of Air Fabrications
(Sous-Secrétaire d'État aux Fabrications de l'Air)
1940 Col. Jules Adolphe Menj "Mény" 1890 - 1945
1940 none
(4) Services and Officials in charge of the aviation until 1928
1910 : A Permanent Inspection of the Military Aeronautic was established
within the War ministry to supervise the aviation units existing
since 1909.
Permanent Inspeectors of the Military Aeronautic
(Inspecteurs permanents de l'Aéronautique militaire)
1910 - 1912 DivGen. Pierre Auguste Roques 1856 - 1920
1912 - 1913 BrigGen. Auguste Édouard Hirschauer 1857 - 1943
1913 - 1914 ...
1912 : A Central Service of Maritime Aeronautic was created within the
Ministry of the Navy
Head of the Central Service of Maritime Aeronautic
(Chefs du Service central de l'Aéronauique navale)
1912 - 191. Capt. Louis Ernest Fatou 1867 - 1957
1914 - 191. Capt. Jean Noël
1914 : The Permanent Inspection was replaced by a Direction of Military
Aeronautic.
Directors of the Military Aeronautic at the War Ministry
(Directeurs de l'Aéronautique militaire)
1914 BrigGen. Félix Paul Antoine Bernard 1857 - 1939
1914 - 1915 BrigGen. Auguste Édouard Hirschauer s.a.
1915 : An Under Secretary of State of Military Aeronautic toke charge of
air affairs at the Ministry of War.
Under Secretary of State of Military Aeronautic
(Sous-Secrétaire d'État à l'Aéronautique militaire)
1915 - 1916 René Henri Besnard s.a.
1916 : -The post of Under Secretary of State of Military Aeronautic was
abolished and the Direction of Military Aeronautic restored.
-The Central Service of Maritime Aeronautic was abolished.
Responsability for air affairs transferred to other directions
of the Navy Ministry.
Director of the Military Aeronautic at the War Ministry
(Directeur de l'Aéronautique militaire)
1916 - 1917 Col. Henri Jacques Régnier 1865 - 1925
1917 : -The post of Under Secretary of State of Military Aeronautic was
restored.
-The Central Service of Maritime Aeronautic was restored as a
section of the General Direction of Submarine Warfare.
-Responsability for the maritime air forces was divided between
the Under Secretary of State of Military Aeronautic and the
newly created post of Under Secretary of State of Submarine
Warfare (s.a. - until 1918)
Under Secretaries of State of the Military Aeronautic
(Sous-Secrétaires d'État à l'Aéronautique militaire)
1917 Charles Augustin Daniel-Vincent 1874 - 1960
1917 - 1919 Jacques Louis Dumesnil s.a.
Directors General of Submarine Warfare
Directeurs généraux de la Guerre sousmarine)
1917 CAmd. Marie Benjamin Gaston Jean
Merveilleux du Vignaux 1865 - 1930
1917 CAdm. Henri Salaün 1866 - 1934
1919 : The Under Secretariat of Military Aeronautic was abolished and
replaced by the Office of the General Coordination of the
Aeronautic within the War ministry who coordinated the activities
not only of the (restored) War and Navy air directions, but also
of those that had in the meanwhile been established within the
Ministries of the Colonies and of Public Works.
Director of the Office of General Coordination of the Aeronautic
(Directeur de l'Office de Coordination générale de l’Aéronautique)
1919 - 1920 Briggen. Marie Victor Charles
Maurice Duval 1869 - 1958
1920 : Responsability for coordinating the air services was transferred
to an Under Secretary of State of Aeronautics and Air Transports
at the Ministry of Public Works.
Under Secretaries of State of Aeronautics and Air Transports
(Sous-Secrétaires d'État à l' Aéronautique et aux Transports aériens)
1920 - 1921 Pierre Étienne Flandin s.a.
1921 - 1924 Laurent André Victor Eynac "Laurent-Eynac" s.a.
1924 none
1934 - 1926 Laurent André Victor Eynac "Laurent-Eynac"
(2x)
1926 Barthélemy Robaglia 1867 - 1941
1926 : Civil aviation and overall responsability for coordination were
transferred from the Ministry of Public Works to the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry.
Director general of the Aeronautic
(Directeur général de l'Aéronautique)
1926 - 1928 DivGen. Amédée Henri Guillemin 1860 - 1941
Ministers of National DefenceMinistres de la Defense nationale
In 1932 the three existing defence departments listed above were briefly (feb to
jun) merged in to one department of National Defence.
In jan - feb 1934 and from 1936 onwards the ministry was re-established, this time
as a coordinating department for the three others.
1932 François Piétri s.a.
1932 - 1934 none
1934 Jean Fabry, also Minister of War s.a.
1934 Joseph Paul-Boncour, also Minister of War s.a.
1934 - 1936 none
1936 - 1940 Édouard Daladier, also Minister of War s.a.
1940 Paul Reynaud, also Minister of War s.a.
1940 Gen. Maxime Weygand 1867 - 1965
Under Secretaries of State
(Sous-Secrétaires d'État)
1932 -Achille Fould 1890 - 1969
-Étienne Riché s.a.
1932 - 1939 none
1939 - 1940 Hippolyte Roc Aristide Ducos,
also of War s.a.
1940 none
1940 Gen. Charles André Marie
Joseph de Gaulle, also of
War s.a.
1940 none
Ministers in charge of ArmamentMinisters of Armament and War Fabrications
(Ministres à l'Armement et aux Fabrications de Guerre)
1916 - 1917 Albert Thomas s.a.
1917 - 1918 Louis Loucheur 1872 - 1931
Under Secretary of State for Inventions related to national Defence
(Sous-Secrétaire d'État aux Inventions intéressant la Defence
nationale)
1916 - 1917 Jean Louis Breton s.a.
(transferred to the Ministry of War - s.a.)
Under Secretary of State of War Fabrications
(Sous-Secrétaire d'État aux Fabrications de Guerre)
1916 - 1917 Louis Loucheur s.a.
1918 : Ministry abolished
1939 : Ministry restored
Ministers of Armament
(Ministres à l'Armement)
1939 - 1940 Raoul Dautry 1880 - 1951
1940 none
Under Secretaries of State of War Fabrications
(Sous-Secrétaires d'État aux Fabrications de Guerre)
1939 - 1940 François Marie Blancho s.a.
1940 none
Ministers of the BlockadeMinistres au Blocus
1917 Camille Célestin Charles Jonnart, also
Minister of the Liberated Regions s.a.
1917 - 1918 Albert Lebrun, also Minister of the
Liberated Regions s.a.
1918 : Ministry abolished
1939 : Ministry restored
1939 - 1940 Georges Pernot 1879 - 1962
1940 Georges Monnet 1898 - 1980
1940 none
Ministers in charge of War Veterans Affairs
1916 : Creation of a Pensions Office (Service des Pensions) within the War Ministry.
This office - from 1917 to 1918 under a separate Under Secretary - was in
charge of the payment of allocations to war victims and of the war graves.
Under Secretaries of Stae of Pensions (at the War Ministry)
(Sous-Secrétairs d'État aux Pensions)
1917 Pierre Massé 1879 - 1942
1917 - 1918 Léon Abrami s.a.
1920 : The Pensions Office was expanded to become the new Ministry of Pensions,
Gratifications and War Indemnisations.
Minister of Pensions, Gratifications and War Indemnities
(Ministre aux Pensions, Primes et Allocations de Guerre)
1920 - 1922 André Maginot s.a.
Ministers of Pensions
(Ministres aux Pensions)
1922 - 1924 André Maginot, also Minister of War s.a.
1924 - 1925 Pierre Amedée Bovier-Lapierre 1883 - 1938
1925 Louis Anténiou 1887 - 1931
1925 - 1926 Paul Jourdain 1878 - 1948
1926 Georges Étienne Bonnet s.a.
1926 - 1928 Louis Marin 1871 - 1960
1928 - 1929 Louis Antériou (2x)
1929 - 1930 Claudius Gillet 1874 - 1936
1930 Auguste Champelier des Ribes 1882 - 1914
1930 Robert Thoumyre 1883 - 1947
1930 - 1931 Maurice Dormann 1881 - 1947
1931 - 1932 Auguste Champetier des Ribes (2x)
1932 Aimé Adrien Maxime Berthod s.a.
1932 - 1933 Édoaurd Miellet 1880 - 1953
1933 - 1934 Hippolyte Roc Aristide Ducos s.a.
1934 - 1935 Georges Rivollet 1888 - 1974
1935 Camille Perfetti 1875 - 1956
1935 - 1936 Henri Maupoil 1891 - 1971
1936 René Amedée Marcel Besse 1891 - 1947
1936 - 1938 Albert Rivière 1891 - 1953
1938 Jean Robert Lasalle 1881 - 1940
1938 Albert Rivière (2x)
Ministers of War Veterans and Pensioners
(Ministres aux anciens Combattants et aux Pensionnés)
1938 - 1939 Auguste Champetier des Ribes s.a.
1939 - 1940 René Amedée Marcel Besse s.a.
1940 Albert Rivière s.a.
1940 Jean Ybarnégaray, also Minister of
the French Family s.a.
Back to TopMINISTERS PART II
