Charles Dupuy
Encyclopedia
Charles Alexandre Dupuy (ʃaʁl dypɥi; 1851–1923) was a French statesman, three times prime minister.
, Haute-Loire, Auvergne
, where his father was a minor official. After a period as a professor of philosophy in the provinces, he was appointed a school inspector, thus obtaining a practical acquaintance with the needs of French education. In 1885 he was elected to the chamber as an Opportunist Republican. After acting as "reporter" of the budget for public instruction, he became minister for the department, in Alexandre Ribot
's cabinet, in 1892. In April 1893 he formed a ministry himself, taking as his office that of minister of the interior, but resigned at the end of November, and on 5 December was elected president of the chamber. During his first week of office an anarchist, Vaillant, who had managed to gain admission to the chamber, threw a bomb at the president, and Dupuy's calm response --"Messieurs, la séance continue" – gained him much credit.
In May 1894 he again became premier and minister of the interior; and he was at President Carnot
's side when Carnot was stabbed to death at Lyon
s in June. He then stood for the presidency, but was defeated, and his cabinet remained in office till January 1895; under this government, Alfred Dreyfus
was arrested and condemned (23 December 1894). The progress of the Dreyfus Affair
cast its shadow over Dupuy, along with other French "ministrables," but in November 1898, after Henri Brisson
had at last remitted the case to the judgment of the court of cassation, he formed a cabinet of Republican concentration.
In view of the apparent likelihood that the judges of the criminal division of the court of cassation—who formed the ordinary tribunal for such an appeal—would decide in favour of Dreyfus, it was thought that Dupuy's new cabinet would be strong enough to reconcile public opinion to such a result; but, to the surprise of outside observers, Dupuy proposed a law in the chamber transferring the decision to a full court of all the divisions of the court of cassation. This arbitrary act, though adopted by the chamber, was construed as a fresh attempt to maintain the judgment of the first court-martial
. In the interim, President Félix Faure
(an anti-Dreyfusard) died, and the accession of Émile Loubet
helped placate the public. The whole court of cassation decided that there must be a new court-martial, and Dupuy at once resigned (June 1899). In June 1900 he was elected senator for the Haute Saône.
Although none of Dupuy's Presidential bids were successful, he served, due to his position as Prime Minister, as an Acting President of the French Republic for three separate occasions during vacancies.
Changes
Biography
He was born in Le Puy-en-VelayLe Puy-en-Velay
Le Puy-en-Velay is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France.Its inhabitants are called Ponots.-History:Le Puy-en-Velay was a major bishopric in medieval France, founded early, though its early history is legendary...
, Haute-Loire, Auvergne
Auvergne (région)
Auvergne is one of the 27 administrative regions of France. It comprises the 4 departments of Allier, Puy de Dome, Cantal and Haute Loire.The current administrative region of Auvergne is larger than the historical province of Auvergne, and includes provinces and areas that historically were not...
, where his father was a minor official. After a period as a professor of philosophy in the provinces, he was appointed a school inspector, thus obtaining a practical acquaintance with the needs of French education. In 1885 he was elected to the chamber as an Opportunist Republican. After acting as "reporter" of the budget for public instruction, he became minister for the department, in Alexandre Ribot
Alexandre Ribot
Alexandre-Félix-Joseph Ribot was a French politician, four times Prime Minister.-Biography:He was born in Saint-Omer, Pas-de-Calais.After a brilliant academic career at the University of Paris, where he was lauréat of the faculty of law, he rapidly made his mark at the bar...
's cabinet, in 1892. In April 1893 he formed a ministry himself, taking as his office that of minister of the interior, but resigned at the end of November, and on 5 December was elected president of the chamber. During his first week of office an anarchist, Vaillant, who had managed to gain admission to the chamber, threw a bomb at the president, and Dupuy's calm response --"Messieurs, la séance continue" – gained him much credit.
In May 1894 he again became premier and minister of the interior; and he was at President Carnot
Marie François Sadi Carnot
Marie François Sadi Carnot was a French statesman and the fourth president of the Third French Republic. He served as the President of France from 1887 until his assassination in 1894.-Early life:...
's side when Carnot was stabbed to death at Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
s in June. He then stood for the presidency, but was defeated, and his cabinet remained in office till January 1895; under this government, Alfred Dreyfus
Alfred Dreyfus
Alfred Dreyfus was a French artillery officer of Jewish background whose trial and conviction in 1894 on charges of treason became one of the most tense political dramas in modern French and European history...
was arrested and condemned (23 December 1894). The progress of the Dreyfus Affair
Dreyfus Affair
The Dreyfus affair was a political scandal that divided France in the 1890s and the early 1900s. It involved the conviction for treason in November 1894 of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a young French artillery officer of Alsatian Jewish descent...
cast its shadow over Dupuy, along with other French "ministrables," but in November 1898, after Henri Brisson
Henri Brisson
Eugène Henri Brisson was a French statesman, Prime Minister of France for a period in 1885-1886 and again in 1898.-Biography:He was born at Bourges , and followed his father’s profession of advocate. Having made his mark in opposition during the last days of the empire, he was appointed...
had at last remitted the case to the judgment of the court of cassation, he formed a cabinet of Republican concentration.
In view of the apparent likelihood that the judges of the criminal division of the court of cassation—who formed the ordinary tribunal for such an appeal—would decide in favour of Dreyfus, it was thought that Dupuy's new cabinet would be strong enough to reconcile public opinion to such a result; but, to the surprise of outside observers, Dupuy proposed a law in the chamber transferring the decision to a full court of all the divisions of the court of cassation. This arbitrary act, though adopted by the chamber, was construed as a fresh attempt to maintain the judgment of the first court-martial
Court-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
. In the interim, President Félix Faure
Félix Faure
Félix François Faure was President of France from 1895 until his death.-Biography:Félix François Faure was born in Paris, the son of a small furniture maker...
(an anti-Dreyfusard) died, and the accession of Émile Loubet
Émile Loubet
Émile François Loubet was a French politician and the 8th President of France.-Early life:He was born the son of a peasant proprietor and mayor of Marsanne . Admitted to the Parisian bar in 1862, he took his doctorate in law the next year...
helped placate the public. The whole court of cassation decided that there must be a new court-martial, and Dupuy at once resigned (June 1899). In June 1900 he was elected senator for the Haute Saône.
Although none of Dupuy's Presidential bids were successful, he served, due to his position as Prime Minister, as an Acting President of the French Republic for three separate occasions during vacancies.
Dupuy's first ministry, 4 April 1893 – 3 December 1893
- Charles Dupuy – President of the Council and Minister of the Interior
- Jules DevelleJules DevelleJules Develle was a French politician. He vwas Minister of Justice and Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1893....
– Minister of Foreign Affairs - Julien Léon LoizillonJulien Léon LoizillonJulien Loizillon, born in Paris on , died at Dammarie-lès-Lys on , was a French general and politician.*Minister of War from to in the government of Alexandre Ribot and from to in the government of Charles Dupuy...
– Minister of War - Paul Peytral – Minister of Finance
- Eugène Guérin – Minister of Justice
- Louis Terrier – Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Colonies
- Auguste Alfred Lefèvre – Minister of Marine
- Raymond PoincaréRaymond PoincaréRaymond Poincaré was a French statesman who served as Prime Minister of France on five separate occasions and as President of France from 1913 to 1920. Poincaré was a conservative leader primarily committed to political and social stability...
– Minister of Public Instruction, Fine Arts, and Worship - Albert Viger – Minister of Agriculture
- Jules Viette – Minister of Public Works
Dupuy's second ministry, 30 May 1894 – 26 January 1895
- Charles Dupuy – President of the Council and Minister of the Interior and of Worship
- Gabriel HanotauxGabriel HanotauxAlbert Auguste Gabriel Hanotaux, known as Gabriel Hanotaux was a French statesman and historian.-Biography:...
– Minister of Foreign Affairs - Auguste Mercier – Minister of War
- Raymond PoincaréRaymond PoincaréRaymond Poincaré was a French statesman who served as Prime Minister of France on five separate occasions and as President of France from 1913 to 1920. Poincaré was a conservative leader primarily committed to political and social stability...
– Minister of Finance - Eugène Guérin – Minister of Justice
- Félix FaureFélix FaureFélix François Faure was President of France from 1895 until his death.-Biography:Félix François Faure was born in Paris, the son of a small furniture maker...
– Minister of Marine - Georges LeyguesGeorges LeyguesGeorges Leygues was a French politician of the Third Republic. During his time as Minister of Marine he worked with the navy's chief of staff Henri Salaun in unsuccessful attempts to gain naval re-armament priority for government funding over army rearmament such as the Maginot Line.He was born...
– Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts - Albert Viger – Minister of Agriculture
- Théophile DelcasséThéophile DelcasséThéophile Delcassé was a French statesman.-Biography:He was born at Pamiers, in the Ariège département...
– Minister of Colonies - Louis BarthouLouis BarthouJean Louis Barthou was a French politician of the Third Republic.-Early years:He was born in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and served as Deputy from that constituency. He was an authority on trade union history and law. Barthou was Prime Minister in 1913, and held ministerial office...
– Minister of Public Works - Victor Lourties – Minister of Commerce and Industry and of Posts and Telegraphs
Dupuy's third ministry, 1 November 1898 – 22 June 1899
- Charles Dupuy – President of the Council and Minister of the Interior and Worship
- Théophile DelcasséThéophile DelcasséThéophile Delcassé was a French statesman.-Biography:He was born at Pamiers, in the Ariège département...
– Minister of Foreign Affairs - Charles de FreycinetCharles de FreycinetCharles Louis de Saulces de Freycinet was a French statesman and Prime Minister during the Third Republic; he belonged to the Opportunist Republicans faction. He was elected a member of the Academy of Sciences, and in 1890, the fourteen member to occupy seat the Académie française.-Early years:He...
– Minister of War - Paul Peytral – Minister of Finance
- Georges Lebret – Minister of Justice
- Édouard Locroy – Minister of Marine
- Georges LeyguesGeorges LeyguesGeorges Leygues was a French politician of the Third Republic. During his time as Minister of Marine he worked with the navy's chief of staff Henri Salaun in unsuccessful attempts to gain naval re-armament priority for government funding over army rearmament such as the Maginot Line.He was born...
– Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts - Albert Viger – Minister of Agriculture
- Antoine Guillain – Minister of Colonies
- Camille Krantz – Minister of Public Works
- Paul Delombre – Minister of Commerce and Industry and of Posts and Telegraphs
Changes
- 6 May 1899 – Camille Krantz succeeds Freycinet as Minister of War. Jean Monestier succeeds Krantz as Minister of Public Works.