Eugène Spuller
Encyclopedia
Eugène Spuller was a French politician
and writer.
He was born at Seurre (Côte-d'Or
), his father being a German who had married and settled in France. After studying law at Dijon
, he went to Paris, where he was called to the bar, and became close to Léon Gambetta
, collaborating with him in 1868 in the foundation of the Revue politique. He had helped Emile Ollivier
in his electoral campaign in Paris in 1863, but when in 1869 Ollivier was preparing to "rally" to the empire, Spuller supported the republican candidate. During the siege of Paris he escaped from the city with Gambetta, becoming his energetic lieutenant in the provinces.
After the peace he edited his chief's Parisian organ, the République française, until in 1876 he entered the Chamber of Deputies for the department of the Seine
. He was minister of foreign affairs during the brief Gambetta administration, and subsequently one of the vice-presidents of the chamber, serving on the budget commission and on a special industrial and agricultural inquiry. His Parisian constituents thought him too moderate on the clerical question, and he had to seek election in 1885 in the Côte d'Or, which in later years he represented in the Senate.
He was minister of education, religion and the fine arts in Maurice Rouvier
's cabinet of 1887; minister of foreign affairs under Pierre Tirard
(1889–1890), and minister of education in 1894 in the Casimir-Perier
cabinet. His published works include some volumes of speeches and well-known studies of Ignatius of Loyola
(1876) and of Jules Michelet
(1876).
to the United States
. At this ceremony, Eugene Spuller, then serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs, declared that the two great republics "united in the past by services rendered are united at present by a common principle, and will be united in the future by the benefits that Liberty will produce for humanity."
Following the ceremony, the statue was dismantled into numbered sections and packed in 210 wooden cases and put aboard the government steamship Idsdre, which sailed May 21, 1885, for New York City
.
Spuller's tomb in the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris is marked by a statue representing National Education, by sculptor Paul Gasq
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and writer.
He was born at Seurre (Côte-d'Or
Côte-d'Or
Côte-d'Or is a department in the eastern part of France.- History :Côte-d'Or is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was formed from part of the former province of Burgundy.- Geography :...
), his father being a German who had married and settled in France. After studying law at Dijon
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
, he went to Paris, where he was called to the bar, and became close to Léon Gambetta
Léon Gambetta
Léon Gambetta was a French statesman prominent after the Franco-Prussian War.-Youth and education:He is said to have inherited his vigour and eloquence from his father, a Genovese grocer who had married a Frenchwoman named Massabie. At the age of fifteen, Gambetta lost the sight of his right eye...
, collaborating with him in 1868 in the foundation of the Revue politique. He had helped Emile Ollivier
Émile Ollivier
Olivier Émile Ollivier was a French statesman. Although a republican, he served as a cabinet minister under Emperor Napoleon III and led the process of turning his regime into a "liberal Empire".-Early life and career:Émile Ollivier was born in Marseille...
in his electoral campaign in Paris in 1863, but when in 1869 Ollivier was preparing to "rally" to the empire, Spuller supported the republican candidate. During the siege of Paris he escaped from the city with Gambetta, becoming his energetic lieutenant in the provinces.
After the peace he edited his chief's Parisian organ, the République française, until in 1876 he entered the Chamber of Deputies for the department of the Seine
Seine
The Seine is a -long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Saint-Seine near Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre . It is navigable by ocean-going vessels...
. He was minister of foreign affairs during the brief Gambetta administration, and subsequently one of the vice-presidents of the chamber, serving on the budget commission and on a special industrial and agricultural inquiry. His Parisian constituents thought him too moderate on the clerical question, and he had to seek election in 1885 in the Côte d'Or, which in later years he represented in the Senate.
He was minister of education, religion and the fine arts in Maurice Rouvier
Maurice Rouvier
Maurice Rouvier was a French statesman.He was born in Aix-en-Provence, and spent his early career in business at Marseille. He supported Léon Gambetta's candidature there in 1867, and in 1870 he founded an anti-imperial journal, L'Egalité. Becoming secretary general of the prefecture of...
's cabinet of 1887; minister of foreign affairs under Pierre Tirard
Pierre Tirard
Pierre Emmanuel Tirard was a French politician.He was born to French parents in Geneva, Switzerland. After studying in his native town, Tirard became a civil engineer. After five years of government service he resigned to become a jewel merchant...
(1889–1890), and minister of education in 1894 in the Casimir-Perier
Jean Casimir-Perier
Jean Paul Pierre Casimir-Perier was a French politician, fifth president of the French Third Republic.-Biography:He was born in Paris, the son of Auguste Casimir-Perier and the grandson of Casimir Pierre Perier, premier of Louis Philippe...
cabinet. His published works include some volumes of speeches and well-known studies of Ignatius of Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish knight from a Basque noble family, hermit, priest since 1537, and theologian, who founded the Society of Jesus and was its first Superior General. Ignatius emerged as a religious leader during the Counter-Reformation...
(1876) and of Jules Michelet
Jules Michelet
Jules Michelet was a French historian. He was born in Paris to a family with Huguenot traditions.-Early life:His father was a master printer, not very prosperous, and Jules assisted him in the actual work of the press...
(1876).
Statue of Liberty dedication
On the Fourth of July, 1884, Spuller and other members of the French Cabinet formally presented the Statue of LibertyStatue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. At this ceremony, Eugene Spuller, then serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs, declared that the two great republics "united in the past by services rendered are united at present by a common principle, and will be united in the future by the benefits that Liberty will produce for humanity."
Following the ceremony, the statue was dismantled into numbered sections and packed in 210 wooden cases and put aboard the government steamship Idsdre, which sailed May 21, 1885, for New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Death and Tomb
Spuller passed away in Dijon in 1896 following a lengthy illness.Spuller's tomb in the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris is marked by a statue representing National Education, by sculptor Paul Gasq
Paul Gasq
Paul Jean-Baptiste Gasq was a French sculptor, born in Dijon.- Life :Gasq was a student at the Dijon School of Fine Arts and the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he took the Prix de Rome in 1890...
.